Head-to-head comparison
Bradley University vs Dominican University: which has better ROI?
Option A Peoria, IL
Bradley University
- Net price / year
- $22,719
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,852
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Option B River Forest, IL
Dominican University
- Net price / year
- $11,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,327
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Dominican University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $46,980 in 3.9 years versus 4.9 years at Bradley University, on median earnings of $60,327 vs $66,852 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bradley University | Dominican University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,719 | $11,745 |
| Total net cost | $90,876 | $46,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,852 | $60,327 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $24,411 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $278,964 | $192,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bradley University or Dominican University?
Dominican University, at $11,745 a year after aid versus $22,719 — a gap of $10,974 a year, or $43,896 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bradley University or Dominican University graduates earn more?
Bradley University graduates report a median $66,852 ten years after entry, $6,525 more than the $60,327 at Dominican University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bradley University or Dominican University?
Dominican University: its completers carry a median $24,411 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bradley University, a difference of $2,589. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Bradley University, against 55% at Dominican University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.