Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Bradley University

Bradley's nursing program shows an unusual pattern that needs careful examination. Graduates earn $73,143 in their first year—solidly middle-of-the-pack for Illinois nursing programs—but see earnings slip to $69,752 by year four. While a 5% decline isn't catastrophic, it runs counter to what you'd typically expect in nursing, where experience usually translates to higher pay. This places Bradley around the 40th percentile among Illinois nursing schools, trailing stronger performers like Governors State ($80,391) and Benedictine ($80,136).

The financial equation itself is sound: $27,000 in debt against first-year earnings of $73,000 produces a manageable 0.37 ratio. That's the national average for nursing debt, meaning graduates aren't being burdened by excessive borrowing. The real question is whether Bradley justifies its private-school costs when comparable programs at Illinois public universities deliver similar or better earnings outcomes. The backward earnings trajectory suggests some graduates may be hitting job market challenges that peers at higher-ranked programs avoid.

For a student committed to staying in the Peoria area or who values Bradley's smaller campus environment, this program offers a viable path into nursing without debt overload. But families comparing nursing schools across Illinois should recognize this sits in the middle tier for earnings potential, with several alternatives offering stronger year-four outcomes.