Bucknell vs. BC

Deciding between Bucknell University and Bridgewater College? 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.

Bucknell University
Bridgewater College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bucknell #71
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bucknell -
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bucknell
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bucknell 59%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bucknell 1390
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bucknell 31
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bucknell A-
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bucknell Very High
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bucknell High
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bucknell 91%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bucknell 89%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bucknell $279
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bucknell 48%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • Bucknell 52%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bucknell Low
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • Bucknell No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • Bucknell 77%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • Bucknell 4%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • Bucknell 3%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bucknell 6%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • Bucknell 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bucknell 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bucknell 4%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • Bucknell 5%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bucknell 0%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bucknell 19%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bucknell 77%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Bucknell University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (3,969 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bucknell University 9:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

Bucknell vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bucknell or BC? 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 Bridgewater College than Bucknell ($11,316 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater College are 12.3% lower than at Bucknell University ($14,850 vs. $16,924).
  • Bucknell University is 321.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $51,722 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 321.5% higher at Bucknell than at Bridgewater College (about $51,722 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Bucknell University (100% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by Bucknell University students ($47,288 vs. $44,734).

Bucknell vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bucknell or BC? 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 BC and Bucknell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bucknell University (1390) is 200 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bucknell University 1310/1470; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bucknell - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bucknell Jan 15, 2027; BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Bucknell students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at BC (3.61).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.1% at Bucknell vs. 10.1% at BC.

Bucknell vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bucknell and BC? 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 Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $33,200 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater College and Bucknell graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Bridgewater College and Bucknell 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 BC students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 77%)

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.