Bradley University

Bradley University is a private university located in Peoria, Illinois. Founded in 1897 as Bradley Polytechnic Institute, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs across five colleges, including liberal arts and sciences, engineering and technology, business, education and health sciences, and communications and fine arts. The university enrolls a few thousand students and emphasizes experiential learning, internships, and close faculty interaction. Bradley competes in NCAA Division I athletics and maintains a residential campus environment. It is known regionally for programs in engineering, business, nursing, game design, and the performing arts, attracting students seeking a mid-sized private university experience in the Midwest.

Bradley University was founded in 1897 in Peoria, Illinois, by philanthropist Lydia Moss Bradley as Bradley Polytechnic Institute. Established in memory of her husband and six children, the institute opened its doors on October 4, 1897, with 14 faculty members and 150 students. William Rainey Harper, then president of the University of Chicago, served as the first president and helped shape its early academic direction. Initially offering both academy and collegiate programs, Bradley shifted to a four-year collegiate model by 1920. Enrollment expanded steadily in the early twentieth century, and new academic fields were added. In 1946, the institution adopted the name Bradley University as it began offering graduate programs. Over time, Bradley University developed multiple colleges and professional schools, evolving into a comprehensive private university serving students from across the United States and internationally.