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Bucknell University
Admission here is competitive but not lottery-odds: 32% got in from a pool of 11,010 (Fall 2023 cycle).
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Bucknell University anchors the college town of Lewisburg, PA, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $156,885 four years out. 12.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 3,876 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 93.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1300 and 1450 — above the PA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Bucknell University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Bucknell University received 11,010 applications and admitted 3,524 (32%), with 1,030 enrolling.
You can apply to Bucknell University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1300 and 1450; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 640 | 680 | 710 |
| SAT Math | 660 | 690 | 740 |
| ACT Composite | 31 | 32 | 33 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Bucknell University compares
| Bucknell University | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 28.9% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $67,812 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $93,807 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Bucknell University: $93,807 median at year ten, versus $62,101 across Pennsylvania institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $67,812 regardless of where you're from. At Bucknell University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 3,876 undergrads, Bucknell University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
86.3% of Bucknell University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 31.5 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $67,812 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Bucknell University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $156,885 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $130,990 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $122,651 |
| Economics | $108,422 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $99,860 |
| Chemical Engineering | $99,536 |
| Civil Engineering | $95,693 |
| Political Science and Government | $94,028 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $90,393 |
| Biology, General | $85,687 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $76,364 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $66,963 |
| Psychology, General | $66,206 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $49,785 |
Median earnings for these 14 Bucknell University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $93,807 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 39 additional Bucknell University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Bucknell University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1300–1450 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 28.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Bucknell University's acceptance rate?
32% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,524 admitted from 11,010 applicants.
How much does Bucknell University cost?
At Bucknell University, published tuition is $67,812 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Bucknell University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Bucknell University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $93,807 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Bryn Mawr College — 29.4% admitted
- Central Penn College — 18.5% admitted
- Franklin and Marshall College — 28.2% admitted
- Lafayette College — 31.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.