Marketing at Bradley University

Bradley University's marketing program demonstrates something noteworthy: graduates start above most marketing programs in Illinois, then see their earnings jump 28% by year four. That $62,440 four-year mark places this program in the 60th percentile statewide—a solid position when you consider that Illinois is home to powerhouse programs at UIUC and several competitive state schools. The debt load of $24,017 is exactly the state median, translating to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5.

The trajectory here matters as much as the starting point. While Bradley graduates don't immediately match the elite Illinois programs, that 28% earnings growth suggests they're building valuable skills and professional networks. Starting at $48,663 beats both the national and state medians for marketing grads, and the four-year earnings show continued momentum rather than plateauing. For a school with a 77% admission rate, these outcomes punch above what you might expect.

For parents evaluating Bradley's marketing program, the math works: moderate debt paired with above-average starting salaries and strong early-career growth. You're not paying UIUC-level selectivity prices (whether in admissions stress or cost), but you're getting earnings that land comfortably in the middle of Illinois's competitive marketing landscape, with promising upward mobility built in.