Bucknell vs. Penn

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

Bucknell Penn
Location Lewisburg, PA Philadelphia, PA
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 3,787 28,201
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #71 #23
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bucknell.edu upenn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bucknell Penn
Tuition (In State) $61,408 $56,212
Tuition (Out of State) $61,408 $56,212
Room & Board $15,358 $17,888
Avg Net Price $39,965 $26,123
Avg Grant Aid $37,775 $57,175
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 46%

Admission

Bucknell Penn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,707 54,588
Admitted 3,811 3,549
Acceptance Rate 32.6% 6.5%
Enrolled % 27.1% 67.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.95
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition High Extreme
ACT Range 30/33 34/35
SAT Range 1310/1470 1500/1570
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 5, 2025

Academics

Bucknell Penn
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Bucknell Penn
Graduation Rate 91% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $76,300 $123,600
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,633
Median Loan Payment $279 $213

Diversity

Bucknell Penn
% Men 48% 44%
% Women 52% 56%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 45%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 5% 11%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Bucknell Penn
% In-State 21% 16%
% Out-of-State 74% 67%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (28,201 students vs. 3,787 students)

Bucknell vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bucknell or Penn?

  • Bucknell University is 9.2% more expensive to attend than Penn for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $56,212.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.2% higher at Bucknell than University of Pennsylvania ($61,408.00 vs. $56,212.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Pennsylvania than Bucknell ($26,123 vs. $39,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 16.5% lower than costs at University of Pennsylvania ($15,358 vs. $17,888)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bucknell University than University of Pennsylvania (56% vs. 46%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 51.4% larger than aid received Bucknell University ($57,175 vs. $37,775)

Bucknell vs. Penn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Pennsylvania (1457) is 142 points higher than at Bucknell (1315)
  • Incoming Penn students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Bucknell (30)
  • Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Bucknell (3.62)
  • Bucknell has a higher acceptance rate (32.6%) than Penn (6.5%)

Bucknell vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bucknell or Penn? 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 and Bucknell.

  • The graduation rate at Penn is higher than Bucknell University (96% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn on average $47,300 more per year than Bucknell graduates after ten years. ($123,600 vs. $76,300)
  • University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $6,367 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($20,633 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($213 vs. $279)
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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