BU vs. Bucknell

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston University
Bucknell University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 Boston University than Bucknell ($24,420 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 11% lower than at Boston University ($16,924 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bucknell (about $290 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at BU than at Bucknell University (about $290 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,812.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bucknell University than at Boston University (59% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 38.3% larger than aid received by Bucknell University students ($61,848 vs. $44,734).

BU vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 90 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Bucknell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • Bucknell has a higher acceptance rate (28.9%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

BU vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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 Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bucknell University and BU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Bucknell University and BU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

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.