AU vs. Bucknell

Deciding between American University and Bucknell University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Bucknell University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Bucknell Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Bucknell Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Bucknell Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Bucknell No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Bucknell No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

AU vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Bucknell? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bucknell University than AU ($39,003 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 5.9% lower than at American University ($16,924 vs. $17,982).
  • Bucknell University is 15.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $9,041 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.4% higher at Bucknell than at American University (about $9,041 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Bucknell University (67% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 23.1% larger than aid received by American University students ($44,734 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Bucknell? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bucknell and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bucknell University (1390) is 20 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

AU vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Bucknell? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Bucknell University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($24,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($250 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.