Bradley welcomes more than 1,000 new students as enrollment trends downward

PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley University’s latest student census shows 1,064 new students enrolled for the Fall 2025 semester.

The total includes 642 first-year students, 150 transfer students, 119 online students, and 153 new graduate students.

Bradley University’s Libby Derry says these new students combine for a 3.8 grade point average, come from 17 states, and represent 25 countries across the world.

While enrollment reflects a decline compared to previous years, university leaders say the figures were expected given broader demographic and market trends in higher education.

“Bradley has planned for this enrollment reality and aligned its budget accordingly,” Dr. Angie Cooksy, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications says. “We are encouraged by the strategic