Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Bradley University

Bradley's teacher education program produces graduates earning around $43,000 annually—typical for the field nationally but trailing the Illinois median by about $1,600. More concerning is its 40th percentile ranking among Illinois programs, placing it in the bottom half for a state where some public universities like Northeastern Illinois and SIU-Carbondale help graduates earn $15,000-$20,000 more. The program essentially plateaus after year one, with earnings growing just $700 over four years while graduates at top Illinois programs continue building momentum.

The debt picture offers a silver lining: at $27,000, borrowing sits at the national median and below the 25th percentile nationally, suggesting Bradley doesn't overburden its education majors. The 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable for a teaching career, though graduates will still face about five years of repayment on standard plans while earning entry-level teacher salaries.

The critical caveat: this analysis draws from fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs. For parents weighing this $27,000 investment, the practical question is whether Bradley's smaller classes and personalized attention justify paying similar debt for below-median Illinois outcomes. If your child qualifies for significant merit aid or prefers Bradley's campus culture, it could work—but families should seriously explore why nearby Illinois public universities consistently produce stronger earning outcomes at comparable or lower debt levels.