Amherst vs. Bucknell

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bucknell University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (3,969 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

Amherst vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst 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 Amherst College than Bucknell ($19,049 vs. $39,003).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 8% lower than at Amherst College ($16,924 vs. $18,390).
• Amherst College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bucknell (about $2,668 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,812.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Amherst than at Bucknell University (about $2,668 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,812.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College as at Bucknell University (59% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 53.3% larger than aid received by Bucknell University students ($68,591 vs. $44,734).

Amherst vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst 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 Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 150 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
• Incoming Amherst students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Bucknell).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Bucknell University 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
• Bucknell has a higher acceptance rate (28.9%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

Amherst vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst 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).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Bucknell University's (91%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Bucknell graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $76,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $14,025 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($12,975 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($134 vs. $279).
• More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.