Bucknell vs. Penn State Berks

Should I go to Bucknell University or Penn State Berks? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bucknell or Penn State Berks 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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Bucknell University vs. Penn State Berks comparison
Bucknell University Penn State Berks College 3 College 4
Bucknell University Penn State Berks
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Overview

Bucknell Penn State Berks
Location Lewisburg, PA Reading, PA
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,787 2,077
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #71 #657
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bucknell.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bucknell Penn State Berks
Tuition (In State) $61,408 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $61,408 $25,854
Room & Board $15,358 $14,334
Avg Net Price $39,965 $21,728
Avg Grant Aid $37,775 $8,528
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 66%

Admission

Bucknell Penn State Berks
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,707 5,605
Admitted 3,811 5,453
Acceptance Rate 32.6% 97.3%
Enrolled % 27.1% 11.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.39
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 23/28
SAT Range 1310/1470 1090/1290
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

Academics

Bucknell Penn State Berks
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Bucknell Penn State Berks
Graduation Rate 91% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $76,300 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Bucknell Penn State Berks
% Men 48% 59%
% Women 52% 41%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 77% 68%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 6% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Bucknell Penn State Berks
% In-State 21% 64%
% Out-of-State 74% 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bucknell University is larger than than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (3,787 students vs. 2,077 students)

Bucknell vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bucknell or Penn State Berks?

  • Bucknell University is 299.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State Berks for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 137.5% higher at Bucknell than Penn State Berks ($61,408.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Berks than Bucknell ($21,728 vs. $39,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 7.1% lower than costs at Bucknell University ($14,334 vs. $15,358)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Berks than Bucknell University (66% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 343% larger than aid received Penn State Berks ($37,775 vs. $8,528)

Bucknell vs. Penn State Berks Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bucknell University (1315) is 337 points higher than at Penn State Berks (978)
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Penn State Berks (22)
  • Accepted freshman Bucknell students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39)
  • Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Bucknell (32.6%)

Bucknell vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bucknell or Penn State Berks? 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 Penn State Berks and Bucknell.

  • The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than Penn State Berks (91% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $21,000 more per year than Penn State Berks graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Berks students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Berks graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/