Quad

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PAQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forHigh earnersHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 11,561 applied (fall 2024: 11,377)Bucknell University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 3,723 admits (fall 2024: 3,291)Bucknell University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 32% admitted (fall 2024: 29%)Bucknell University (Fall 2025)

Source:Bucknell University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 3 applicants admitted

Bucknell admits about 1 in 3 applicants (32%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 93% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

32%

32%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

11,561

Admitted

3,723

Yield

28%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1310–1470

10001600
ACT middle 50%

30–33

1836
Applications +45% since fall 2014 · admit rate 31% → 29%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,876 undergrads, where 12% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

3.9K

undergrads · larger than 73% of colleges

Diversity index

0.44

Pell Grant

12%

below the median

First generation

12%

below the median

Distant townNCAA D-I FCS · Patriot LeagueROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.37 → 0.44 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Economics, General (9% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 97% of faculty are full-time. Spends $24,614 a year on instruction per student.

9 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 84% of colleges

Most popular major

Economics, General

9% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Engineering

$156.9K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

97%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$24.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $57,601 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $33.3K more than the national median. The 59% who received grants paid $39,003 on average; the other 41% paid the full sticker price of $83,790.

31%

$57.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $33.3K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$83,790 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
17% · avg $37K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 31% of full price

Federal loans

35%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office
Cost steady · −4% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $93,807 ten years after enrolling, more than at 97% of colleges; 88% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.5 years of that salary.

88%

88%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$93.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$27K

≈ $286/month for 10 years

Retention

94%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 89% → 86% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 4%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 45% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 31% to 29%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −4% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +45%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 31% → 29% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.37 → 0.44

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

College of the Holy Cross

18% admit · SAT 1325 · 3.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Fairfield University

33% admit · SAT 1325 · 5.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Furman University

46% admit · SAT 1350 · 2.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso private
Compare side-by-side

Providence College

51% admit · SAT 1320 · 4.2K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Northeast
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Bucknell University (Fall 2025)

    Bucknell University · Fall 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Bucknell University (2026)

    Bucknell University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 211291 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything