Elms College vs. Bucknell

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

Elms College Bucknell
Location Chicopee, MA Lewisburg, PA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 1,332 3,892
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #374 #73
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elms.edu bucknell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elms College Bucknell
Tuition (In State) $40,095 $64,418
Tuition (Out of State) $40,095 $64,418
Room & Board $15,150 $16,118
Avg Net Price $22,311 $38,486
Avg Grant Aid $31,015 $41,211
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 56%

Admission

Elms College Bucknell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,442 11,010
Admitted 1,264 3,524
Acceptance Rate 87.7% 32%
Enrolled % 15.5% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.62
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 31/33
SAT Range 1150/1320 1300/1450
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, 2026

Academics

Elms College Bucknell
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (49%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • History (5%)
  • General Studies (4%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Elms College Bucknell
Graduation Rate 58% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,300 $76,300
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

Elms College Bucknell
% Men 4% 0%
% Women 18% 1%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 77%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 24% 0%

Students

Elms College Bucknell
% In-State 71% 21%
% Out-of-State 26% 74%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bucknell University is larger than than Elms College based on total student enrollment (3,892 students vs. 1,332 students)

Elms College vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Bucknell?

  • Bucknell University is 60.7% more expensive to attend than Elms College for in-state tuition ($64,418.00 vs. $40,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 60.7% higher at Bucknell than College of Our Lady of the Elms ($64,418.00 vs. $40,095.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Bucknell ($22,311 vs. $38,486)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Our Lady of the Elms are 6.4% lower than costs at Bucknell University ($15,150 vs. $16,118)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Bucknell University (100% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 32.9% larger than aid received College of Our Lady of the Elms ($41,211 vs. $31,015)

Elms College vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bucknell University (1315) is 339 points higher than at Elms College (976)
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Elms College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Bucknell students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Elms College (3.42)
  • Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than Bucknell (32%)

Elms College vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elms College or Bucknell? 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 Bucknell and Elms College.

  • The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms (91% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $30,000 more per year than Elms College graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $46,300)
  • College of Our Lady of the Elms students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Elms College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 61%)

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