AU vs. Bucknell

Should I go to American University or Bucknell University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Bucknell is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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American University vs. Bucknell University comparison
American University Bucknell University College 3 College 4
American University Bucknell University
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Overview

 AU Bucknell
Location Washington, DC Lewisburg, PA
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 13,885 3,787
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #71
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu bucknell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU Bucknell
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $61,408
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $61,408
Room & Board $15,706 $15,358
Avg Net Price $41,369 $39,965
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $37,775
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 56%

Admission

 AU Bucknell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 11,707
Admitted 7,926 3,811
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 32.6%
Enrolled % 22.2% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 29/32 30/33
SAT Range 1290/1430 1310/1470
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 AU Bucknell
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

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

Students

 AU Bucknell
% In-State 2% 21%
% Out-of-State 94% 74%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,787 students)

AU vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Bucknell?

  • Bucknell University is 15.7% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.7% higher at Bucknell than American University ($61,408.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bucknell University than AU ($39,965 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 2.3% lower than costs at American University ($15,358 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Bucknell University (66% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 39.2% larger than aid received American University ($37,775 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Bucknell? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bucknell or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Bucknell University (1315) is 63 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at AU (28)
  • 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 (40.6%) than Bucknell (32.6%)

AU vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Bucknell? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bucknell and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than American University (91% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $11,500 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $64,800)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans 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/