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Colleges in and near Peoria

Peoria is home to three colleges, with 4,967 students on campus

Bradley University (4,415 students on campus) and Methodist College (351) are inside the city. About 7% of Peoria’s residents are enrolled in college, above Illinois (6%).

Bradley 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 Peoria. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
11,092 students on campus
Nearest college
3.8 mi
Bradley University
Residents in college
7%
Above IL (6%)
Nearest community college
5.7 mi
Illinois Central College · $4,800 tuition
Nearest public university
36.9 mi
Illinois State · $16,144 in-state
Median household income
$59K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Peoria

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

A university in PeoriaBradley University has 4,415 students on campus in Peoria, 76% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 5.7 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 7% of residentsAbove Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Peoria

Three private colleges within 4 miles, and Illinois Central College 5.7 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Illinois State University, is 36.9 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miIllinois Central CollegeBradley UniversityMethodist CollegePeoria
University or collegeCommunity college
Bradley UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,415 on campus · In Peoria77%admitted$23knet price76%graduate$67kearningsSaint Francis Medical Center College of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 201 on campus · In Peoria · mostly online$73kearnings62% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Methodist CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 351 on campus · In Peoria39%admitted$42knet price20%graduate$70kearningsIllinois Central CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,125 on campus · 5.7 mi · East Peoria$13knet price49%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,800 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Peoria’s median household income ($59,410) falls.

Illinois Central College5.7 mi · East Peoria · sticker $18,938 · tuition $4,800$13,386a year
Illinois State University36.9 mi · Normal · sticker $34,309$16,348a year
Bradley UniversityIn Peoria · sticker $54,730$18,609a year
Methodist CollegeIn 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 →Bradley UniversityMethodist CollegeIllinois Central 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
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 Peoria

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Peoria’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 21%Business 14%Engineering 14%Computer science 12%Education 7%Communication 5%Everything else 27%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMethodist College · 102 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBradley University · 83 graduates a year
$87k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralBradley University · 81 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringBradley University · 64 graduates a year
$96k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBradley University · 59 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Civil EngineeringBradley University · 55 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationBradley University · 52 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Design and Applied ArtsBradley University · 48 graduates a year
$61k4 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. Left out: Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Peoria

Is Peoria a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Peoria residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Bradley University, has 4,415 students on campus.

What colleges are in Peoria?

Bradley University, Methodist College and Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing are inside the city. Illinois Central College is 5.7 miles away in East Peoria.

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

Illinois Central College in East Peoria, 5.7 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 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 →