Harvard vs. Bucknell

Deciding between Harvard University and Bucknell University? 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.

Harvard University
Bucknell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

Harvard vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Bucknell? 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 Harvard University than Bucknell ($17,525 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 20.1% lower than at Harvard University ($16,924 vs. $21,190).
  • Bucknell University is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $6,136 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at Bucknell than at Harvard University (about $6,136 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bucknell University than at Harvard University (59% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 52% larger than aid received by Bucknell University students ($68,015 vs. $44,734).

Harvard vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 160 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Bucknell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • Bucknell has a higher acceptance rate (28.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

Harvard vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Bucknell? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Bucknell University's (91%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $60,400 more per year than Bucknell graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $76,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($67 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 70%)

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.