Bradley vs. WMU

Should I go to Bradley University or Western Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bradley or WMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bradley University vs. Western Michigan University comparison
Bradley University Western Michigan University College 3 College 4
Bradley University Western Michigan University
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Overview

Bradley WMU
Location Peoria, IL Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 5,552 17,000
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #231 #634
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bradley.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bradley WMU
Tuition (In State) $37,380 $14,523
Tuition (Out of State) $37,380 $18,154
Room & Board $12,196 $11,102
Avg Net Price $24,053 $20,030
Avg Grant Aid $26,693 $6,813
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

Bradley WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,352 20,501
Admitted 8,530 17,334
Acceptance Rate 75.1% 84.6%
Enrolled % 12.1% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/30 19/27
SAT Range 1050/1280 990/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Bradley WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

Bradley WMU
Graduation Rate 75% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,800 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $279 $275

Diversity

Bradley WMU
% Men 45% 47%
% Women 55% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 72%
% Black 5% 12%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 20% 1%

Students

Bradley WMU
% In-State 87% 79%
% Out-of-State 12% 19%

Campus

Bradley WMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than Bradley based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 5,552 students)

Bradley vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bradley or WMU?

  • Bradley University is 157.4% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($37,380.00 vs. $14,523.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105.9% higher at Bradley than Western Michigan University ($37,380.00 vs. $18,154.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than Bradley ($20,030 vs. $24,053)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 9.9% lower than costs at Bradley University ($11,102 vs. $12,196)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bradley University than Western Michigan University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bradley University students is 291.8% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($26,693 vs. $6,813)

Bradley vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bradley or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or Bradley .

  • The average SAT score at Bradley University (1163) is 133 points higher than at WMU (1030)
  • Incoming Bradley students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Bradley students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at WMU (3.5)
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Bradley (75.1%)

Bradley vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bradley or WMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WMU and Bradley.

  • The graduation rate at Bradley is higher than Western Michigan University (75% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Bradley University earn on average $7,900 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($56,800 vs. $48,900)
  • Western Michigan University students graduate with a $367 lower median federal student loan debt than Bradley graduates. ($26,633 vs. $27,000)
  • WMU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Bradley graduates. ($275 vs. $279)
  • More Bradley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/