Ohio State vs. Bucknell

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus 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.

Ohio State University Main Campus
Bucknell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

Ohio State vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State 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 Ohio State University Main Campus than Bucknell ($19,783 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 12.9% lower than at Bucknell University ($14,738 vs. $16,924).
  • Bucknell University is 412% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $54,568 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.4% higher at Bucknell than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $27,790 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Bucknell University (70% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 240.2% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($44,734 vs. $13,151).

Ohio State vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ohio State 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 Ohio State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 10 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

Ohio State vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State 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).

  • Bucknell University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $25,700 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 63%)

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.