Head-to-head comparison
Bradley University vs University of Illinois Springfield: 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 Springfield, IL
University of Illinois Springfield
- Net price / year
- $9,833
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,103
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
University of Illinois Springfield has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $39,332 in 4.5 years versus 4.9 years at Bradley University, on median earnings of $57,103 vs $66,852 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bradley University | University of Illinois Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,719 | $9,833 |
| Total net cost | $90,876 | $39,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,852 | $57,103 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $19,128 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $278,964 | $135,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bradley University or University of Illinois Springfield?
University of Illinois Springfield, at $9,833 a year after aid versus $22,719 — a gap of $12,886 a year, or $51,544 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 University of Illinois Springfield graduates earn more?
Bradley University graduates report a median $66,852 ten years after entry, $9,749 more than the $57,103 at University of Illinois Springfield. 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 University of Illinois Springfield?
University of Illinois Springfield: its completers carry a median $19,128 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bradley University, a difference of $7,872. 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 53% at University of Illinois Springfield. 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.