

Bradley's varsity teams, known as the Braves, compete in NCAA Division I, primarily in the Missouri Valley Conference. Basketball is a prominent spectator sport, and varsity opportunities also include sports such as baseball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and track and field.
Varsity athletics is only one way to participate. Club sports, intramurals, and recreational fitness offer different levels of commitment and generally have different eligibility and scheduling rules. A broad campus sports list should not be mistaken for a list of NCAA teams: activities such as ultimate Frisbee or rock climbing may be offered outside varsity competition. Prospective athletes should confirm current team sponsorship and recruiting procedures with the relevant coach; participation and athletic aid are not automatic.
Bradley offers student-led organizations spanning academic interests, identity and culture, service, leadership, recreation, and the arts. Examples identified in campus organization listings include the AI Club, Black Student Alliance, National Society of Leadership and Success, and BU Explore Peoria.
Students can also look for student government, performing groups, professional societies connected to a major, and fraternity or sorority chapters. Bradley reports a student-run newspaper, radio station, and television station, as well as theater and choral groups. Because recognition and activity can change from year to year, the current student-organization directory and campus activities calendar are better guides to meeting times and membership than an older club list.
Bradley enrolled 4,777 students in the reported institutional enrollment figure. Its entering population included 811 first-time degree-seeking undergraduates and 120 transfer-in degree-seeking undergraduates, so both new high school graduates and college transfers enter the university.
Reported geographic figures show a strong Illinois presence: 87% of students were from Illinois, 11% from other U.S. states, and 2% from other countries. The university also enrolls students beyond traditional college age. Demographic figures describe enrollment, not any individual's experience of belonging or the character of a classroom.
Bradley reports a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1. That institution-wide measure is useful context, but it does not establish the size of every introductory course, lab, or graduate seminar. Applicants who prefer particular teaching formats should examine courses in their intended major.
Daily life at Bradley combines a residential campus with a substantial commuting population. Reported housing figures indicate that 64% of students live on campus, while 36% commute, making class schedules, evening activities, and transportation relevant considerations for different students.
Campus programming, performances, recreation, and student media provide ways to connect outside class. Bradley also reports a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling services. New students may find it useful to establish early where academic advising, health support, and campus activities are located, particularly if they will be balancing classes with work or a commute. The experience will vary by program and schedule; a lab-heavy major or a student living off campus may use campus spaces differently from a resident in a less structured program.
Cullom-Davis Library is Bradley's main campus library and a central place for individual study, group work, and academic research. Students can reserve study rooms, while library research resources extend beyond the materials physically on its shelves.
For an assignment, students can use the library to find scholarly articles and other digital resources, seek research assistance, and investigate borrowing options when a needed item is not held locally. Online access can be particularly useful to commuters and students working away from campus. Study-space availability is not the same as round-the-clock building access, so students planning late-night work should check current library hours and room-booking rules.
Total enrollment
4777Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
642Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
287 full time, 220 part timeVeterans affair office
NoVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross-country running
Fencing
Football
Golf
Ice hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Table tennis
Tennis
Track and field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water polo
Wrestling
Data last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.