Bradley University is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a medium sized institution, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 5,200 students, and a graduate enrollment of approximately 900 students. Bradley Polytechnic Institute was begun by Lydia Moss Bradley in 1897. It became a four year college in 1920 and a university in 1946.

The university has five colleges; College of Business Administration; College of Communications and Fine Arts; Education and Health Sciences; Engineering and Technology; and Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Bradley sports teams are nicknamed the "Braves". They compete at the Division I level in basketball, soccer, and baseball in the Missouri Valley Conference.