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Lafayette College Lehigh Villanova University of Richmond Colgate Denison Butler Trinity College Creighton University Skidmore College Penn State Fordham| Drake University | Bucknell University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Drake | Bucknell | ||
| Location | Des Moines, IA | Lewisburg, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 4,504 | 3,892 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #135 | #73 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | drake.edu | bucknell.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Drake | Bucknell | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,466 | $64,418 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,466 | $64,418 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,858 | $16,118 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,886 | $38,486 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,783 | $41,211 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 56% |
Admission |
Drake | Bucknell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,741 | 11,010 | ||
| Admitted | 4,964 | 3,524 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 64.1% | 32% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 29.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.62 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 24/30 | 31/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1390 | 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 |
Drake | Bucknell | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Drake | Bucknell | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 91% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,500 | $76,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 84% | 89% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $279 |
Diversity |
Drake | Bucknell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Drake | Bucknell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 41% | 21% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 56% | 74% | ||
Campus |
Drake | Bucknell | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Drake University is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (4,504 students vs. 3,892 students)
Drake vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Drake or Bucknell?
- Bucknell University is 30.2% more expensive to attend than Drake for in-state tuition ($64,418.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.2% higher at Bucknell than Drake University ($64,418.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Bucknell ($30,886 vs. $38,486)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 35.9% lower than costs at Bucknell University ($11,858 vs. $16,118)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Bucknell University (100% vs. 56%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 29.7% larger than aid received Drake University ($41,211 vs. $31,783)
Drake vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Drake or Bucknell? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bucknell or Drake .
- The average SAT score at Bucknell University (1315) is 91 points higher than at Drake (1224)
- Incoming Bucknell students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Drake (27)
- Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Bucknell (3.62)
- Drake has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than Bucknell (32%)
Drake vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Drake 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 Drake.
- The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than Drake University (91% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $7,800 more per year than Drake graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $68,500)
- Drake University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- Drake graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drake 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/