Financial Assistance

Through scholarships, assistantships, stipends, and loans, Bradley helps students realize their educational goals. Scholarships and assistantships provide from 10% to 100% tuition reduction on courses numbered 500 – 899 up to a maximum of 18 to 24 graduate semester hours per academic year, depending upon the program.

Graduate students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or asylees may apply for U.S. federal student aid. U.S. federal student aid is not applicable for international students or those on temporary visas, however international students are often eligible for many other sources of financial aid, including the opportunities listed below.

Complete the Free Application for US Federal Student Aid online

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance is designed to help families budget for their direct and indirect expenses at Bradley. For information about expenses included in the Graduate Cost of Attendance, please visit our Graduate Cost Of Attendance (COA) page.

Graduate Tuition Scholarships

Bradley rewards exceptional performance as an undergraduate through the award of Graduate Tuition Scholarships. Approved students receive a tuition reduction based on their qualifying GPA.

Qualifying GPA	Scholarship	Tuition Reduction
3.25 – 3.74	Graduate Merit Scholarship	10%
3.75 – 4.00	Graduate Excellence Scholarship	25%

Only those students admitted to residential degree programs are eligible for these awards. All applicants for admission are automatically considered for these scholarships.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships provide an opportunity for students to work with faculty or staff, generally in their chosen field. Assistantships are very competitive, but for students who excel in their field of study, they can be an excellent way to gain experience while financing an education. Assistants are paid a stipend and receive a tuition scholarship. A full-time assistant receives a 100% tuition reduction on qualifying courses. A half-time assistant receives a 50% tuition reduction on qualifying courses. Graduate assistants are also paid a stipend. The amount of the stipend varies by department and program.

Tuition aid from a graduate assistantship cannot be used in conjunction with any other university-supported financial assistance award.

A graduate assistant must be admitted to a degree program and must intend to study full-time. Apply for a graduate assistantship using the hyperlink below. The recommended deadline for applying for a Graduate Assistantship for the fall semester is April 1.

Graduate Assistantship Application

Caterpillar Masters Fellowships

Caterpillar Master's Fellowships are awarded to outstanding students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement and are committed to research and creative production. Students must be full-time and are expected to complete a research project in their area of interest within two years. Students who are awarded Fellowships will work on a student-selected project under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

The Fellowship qualifies students for 100% of tuition aid up to 21 semester hours for the academic year and a stipend. To be considered, students must complete the Caterpillar Masters Fellowship Application form and submit the required materials to bugrad@bradley.edu by April 15 for the following fall semester or by November 15 for the following spring semester. Caterpillar Masters Fellowship applications are only accepted for those students who are enrolled in a master’s program in Bradley University or who are undergraduate students in the last semester of their senior year at Bradley University who will be continuing in a master’s program. Please see the Caterpillar Masters Fellowship application for a complete list of requirements.

Any student who is awarded a Fellowship must apply for renewal of the Fellowship in their second year of study. Students who want to renew their CAT Fellowship must have a letter of support from their faculty sponsor to be considered for a second CAT Fellowship. In addition, the student also needs to write a letter explaining what they did the previous year and what they will be doing in the future year if they are awarded a second CAT Fellowship. These two items will be considered with the rest of the CAT applications. Students also need to present at the Graduate Student Expo as part of the requirements of the CAT Fellowship. This is a competitive process and just because a student previously received a CAT Fellowship does not mean they will automatically receive funding for a second year.

Download the Caterpillar Masters Fellowship Application (pdf)

Download the Caterpillar Masters Fellowship Criteria & Eligibility Information

Professional Educators Scholarships

These scholarships are available to full-time school district employees who have been unconditionally admitted to any of the following Bradley University degree or certificate programs:

• Art (M.A. only)
• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Chemistry
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Educational Administration
• Elementary Math, Science, and Technology Education
• English
• Environmental Science Education
• School Counseling

In addition, the PES is available to full-time employees of a nonprofit organization who have been unconditionally admitted to the Non-Profit Leadership degree program.

The PES is valued at up to 50% of the prevailing tuition rate for up to 18 semester hours per academic year, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other university-supported financial assistance programs. Eligibility for the scholarship is determined by Bradley at the point of admission. Scholarships will renew at the same level as long as the student maintains a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0/4.0, remains in good academic standing (i.e. not on academic probation or academically dismissed), and maintains eligible full-time employment. Applicants seeking admission to a graduate program should complete the employer information in the Financial Assistance section of the Application for Graduate Admission. Applicants are required to submit an approved Employer Verification Form.

Download the Employer Verification Form (pdf)

Employee Development Scholarships

These scholarships are available to full-time employees of participating companies who have been unconditionally admitted to the MBA or MSA program at Bradley University. The scholarships may cover up to 35% of the prevailing tuition rate for up to 30 semester hours per academic year. Students must be admitted unconditionally to the MBA or MSA program to qualify and have a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA. Eligibility for the scholarships is determined by Bradley at the point of admission. Scholarships will renew at the same level as long as the student maintains a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0, remains in good academic standing (i.e. not on academic probation or academically dismissed), and maintains full-time employment at a participating company.

Applicants seeking admission to a graduate program should complete the employer information in the Financial Assistance section of the Application for Graduate Admission. To be assured consideration, applicants are required to submit an Employer Verification Form. The MBA/MSA Employee Development Scholarships cannot be used in conjunction with any other university-supported financial assistance programs.

Current Participating Employers Include:

• A. G. Edwards
• ADM
• Automotive Robotics
• Caterpillar Inc.
• CEFCU
• CGN & Associates, Inc.
• Illinois Central College
• Illinois Department of Transportation
• Illinois Mutual
• Komatsu
• OSF Healthcare System
• RLI
• RSM McGladrey

Download the Employer Verification Form (pdf)

Federal Stafford Loan

The Stafford Loan program is made available by the US federal government. Additional information can be found at Student Financial Services Federal Stafford Loan site.

PLUS Loans for Graduate Students

The PLUS Loan program is made available by the US federal government. Additional information can be found at Student Financial Services PLUS Loans for Graduate Students site.

Request for Review of Graduate Financial Assistance

Students who do not receive financial assistance upon their admission may apply for reconsideration after completing 6 hours of graduate level coursework at Bradley University with a minimum 3.25/4.0 cumulative GPA. Any additional financial assistance will not be distributed until the semester following the semester in which the student completes 6 graduate semester hours at Bradley. To continue to receive any scholarship in subsequent semesters, the student must maintain the required minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0, and remain in good academic standing (i.e. not on academic probation or academically dismissed). Scholarship awards will be suspended for students who are placed on scholastic probation or dismissed.

Students who are requesting reconsideration must email a Request for Review of Graduate Financial Assistance form to bugrad@bradley.edu. Requests will not be processed until after grades are posted for the semester in which the student completed 6 graduate credit hours. Requests will be accepted on a continuous basis, but applicants are encouraged to make their request by the following dates for expedited processing:

• Fall Semester - August 1
• Spring Semester - January 1
• Summer Sessions - May 1

Students who are admitted conditionally to a degree program are not eligible for reconsideration until the conditional status has been removed. Students who have been awarded a graduate assistantship may submit a Request for Review in order to apply for a graduate tuition scholarship to take effect in the term after their assistantship ends. The student's cumulative graduate GPA will be evaluated for determining the scholarship.

Download the Request for Review of Graduate Financial Assistance (pdf)

If you have additional questions regarding financial assistance please email bugrad@bradley.edu or contact the Office of Financial Assistance (Room 100, Swords Hall) at (309) 677-3089.

This is the official catalog for the 2024-2025 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.