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Colleges in and near East Peoria

East Peoria is home to Illinois Central College

Illinois Central College (6,125 students on campus) is inside the city, and Bradley University (4,415) is 4.2 miles from the center, just over the line in Peoria. About 5% of East Peoria’s residents are enrolled in college, below Illinois (6%).

Illinois Central CollegeBradley University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of East Peoria. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
11,613 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
Illinois Central College
Residents in college
5%
Below IL (6%)
Nearest community college
2.6 mi
Illinois Central College · $4,800 tuition
Nearest public university
31.2 mi
Illinois State · $16,144 in-state
Median household income
$72K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in East Peoria

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 4.2 milesBradley University admits 77% of applicants. Together they have 10,540 students on campus.A community college 2.6 miles awayIllinois Central College in East Peoria: tuition and fees $4,800 a year for Illinois residents.In-state price at Illinois StateLiving in Illinois, Illinois State University charges $16,144 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $28,210. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsBelow Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of East Peoria

Four private colleges within 14.6 miles, and Illinois Central College 2.6 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Illinois State University, is 31.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miIllinois Central CollegeBradley UniversityEast Peoria
University or collegeCommunity college
Illinois Central CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,125 on campus · In East Peoria$13knet price49%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,800 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saint Francis Medical Center College of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 201 on campus · 3.1 mi · Peoria · mostly online$73kearnings62% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Bradley UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,415 on campus · 4.2 mi · Peoria77%admitted$23knet price76%graduate$67kearningsMethodist CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 351 on campus · 10.4 mi · Peoria39%admitted$42knet price20%graduate$70kearningsEureka CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 521 on campus · 14.6 mi · Eureka85%admitted$17knet price42%graduate$52kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where East Peoria’s median household income ($71,833) falls.

Illinois Central CollegeIn East Peoria · sticker $18,938 · tuition $4,800$13,386a year
Eureka College14.6 mi · Eureka · sticker $39,578$14,602a year
Illinois State University31.2 mi · Normal · sticker $34,309$16,348a year
Bradley University4.2 mi · Peoria · sticker $54,730$18,609a year
Methodist College10.4 mi · Peoria · sticker $46,874—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Illinois Central CollegeBradley UniversityMethodist CollegeEureka CollegeIllinois State
Illinois State University65% graduate$62k earnings$20k typical debt
Illinois Central College49% graduate$37k earnings$9k typical debt
Bradley University76% graduate$67k earnings$27k typical debt
Eureka College42% graduate$52k earnings$23k typical debt
Methodist College20% graduate$70k earnings$31k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in East Peoria

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Illinois Central College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 44%Health professions 30%Precision production 6%Mechanics & repair 4%Transportation 4%Computer science 3%Everything else 8%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities567 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing71 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions49 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians33 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services21 graduates a year
$38k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in East Peoria

Is East Peoria a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 East Peoria residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Illinois Central College, has 6,125 students on campus.

What colleges are in East Peoria?

Illinois Central College is inside the city. Bradley University is 4.2 miles from the center, in Peoria.

What is the closest community college to East Peoria, and what does it cost?

Illinois Central College in East Peoria, 2.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,800 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $12,961, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Illinois State University cost if we live in Illinois?

Tuition and fees are $16,144 a year in-state and $28,210 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,568 (under $30,000 income) to $28,224 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of East Peoria. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →