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History, Affiliations and Rankings
In memory of her loving husband and six children, the renowned philanthropist Lydia Moss Bradley founded Bradley University in 1897. Regional accreditation has been given to the university by the Higher Learning Commission. The university is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and has been listed among the first five universities having a school of Entrepreneurship in the state.Originally, the institute was designed as both a four-year academy and a two-year college. At the time, there was just one other high school in Peoria. By 1899, the institute had grown to accommodate approximately 500 students, with courses in biology, chemistry, food preparation, sewing, English, German, French, Latin, Greek, history, manual arts, drawing, mathematics, and physics available. By 1920, the institute had abandoned its academy focus in favour of a four-year collegial programme. Enrollment grew steadily over the next few decades, and the name Bradley University was adopted in 1946. Bradley University was ranked #2 among 157 Midwest Regional Universities in 2022.
Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses
The university is located in Peoria city of Illinois and comprises 6 colleges including the Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology, Foster College of Business, Slane College of Communications and Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and 22 specialized and professional accreditors. With a campus size of 85 acres, Bradley University is home to more than 5,400 students and offers over 100 Undergraduate programs in the field of Biology, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Computer Science, Economics and Engineering along with 30 Graduate programs in Accounting, Fine Arts, Business Administration and English Literature. The university also has various residential buildings providing accommodation to foreign and local students.
Accomplishments and Alumni
It is the first academic institution to be established as a freestanding academic unit. Bradley University's Department of Teacher Education and College of Education and Health Sciences are NCATE-accredited institutions. Furthermore, Bradley University's Foster College of Business is one of just around 2% of all business schools in the world to acquire and maintain AACSB International accreditation for both business and accounting programmes. Bradley's International Trade Center received the Presidential "E" Award for U.S. Exporters in 2009. Bradley's ITC was the only trade centre in the country to receive one of the 21 national honours. Fulbright Program — In 2013-2014, Bradley was ranked sixth nationally among universities of its sort in terms of producing Fulbright students. Foster College of Business was one of three schools to receive the AACSB Mid-Continent East Division's Innovation in Leadership of Business Education Award.The university has an extensive list of alumni. Some of the notable alumni names include Brad Cohen (Motivational Speaker), Jill Bennet (Renowned Actress), Lyall Smith (Sportswriter), Philip Jose Farmer (Author)
Student Diversity and Visiting Companies
The students are taught by experienced faculty members which ensure the development of necessary skills among students. These skills make them a suitable fit for the job market. Through this university, students also get a chance to visit many companies for internships. Bradley University's student population is 67.5 percent White, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.93% Black or African American, 4.2 percent Asian, 2.89 percent Two or More Races, 0.359 percent American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0683 percent Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.Famous companies that recruit at Bradley University include JP Morgan, Amazon, Deloitte, Microsoft, EY, Google, and more.
