Mechanical Engineering at Bradley University

Bradley's mechanical engineering program sits comfortably in the middle tier among Illinois schools—ranking at the 60th percentile statewide—while keeping debt remarkably low at just $27,000. That debt figure places the program in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of mechanical engineering programs saddle graduates with more debt. The first-year median of $71,746 exceeds both the national and Illinois medians, and the trajectory looks healthy with earnings climbing 14% to nearly $82,000 by year four.

The real strength here is the financial equation: with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, graduates owe roughly five months' salary. Compare this to UIUC's stronger earnings ($80,187) but likely higher debt burden at a flagship institution. Bradley offers a solid middle path—you're not getting Northwestern outcomes, but you're also not taking on Northwestern-level financial risk. The 77% admission rate makes this accessible for strong but not elite students.

For families seeking a traditional engineering education without excessive debt, Bradley delivers a straightforward value proposition. Your child will start their career earning above-average wages while managing very manageable loan payments, leaving more flexibility for buying a home or pursuing graduate education down the line.