Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$50 to apply
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 26%, women at 32%.
Yield
28% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Where you stand
How Bucknell reads a record
GPA, the high school record, and a college-prep program are required; class rank is considered. Scores are optional. 29% of first-years sent an SAT and 10% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores.
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Considered
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1390 on the SAT, 220 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Bucknell University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)