Bucknell University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Bucknell University is a private institution located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Bucknell University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 29%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1280 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $40,766 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Bucknell University?

69% of enrolled students at Bucknell University had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.62, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Bucknell University weight in admissions?

Bucknell University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Bucknell University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–33. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Bucknell University actually cost?

Published tuition is $67,812 for in-state students and $67,812 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,924 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $40,766 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 12% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Bucknell University

Will my child graduate from Bucknell University?

These predict outcomes at Bucknell University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Bucknell University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Bucknell University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Political Science and Government and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Bucknell University confers roughly 555 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $101,580 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Bucknell University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Bucknell University disclosed 22 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 20 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Bucknell University?

About 76% of undergraduates at Bucknell University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 31% of men join a fraternity and 43% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about

• Ursinus College
  92% acceptance
• Allegheny College
  55% acceptance
• University of Pennsylvania
  5% acceptance
• Carnegie Mellon University
  12% acceptance
• Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
  61% acceptance
• Lehigh University
  26% acceptance
• Drexel University
  79% acceptance
• University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
  58% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Bucknell University