Pepperdine vs. Bucknell

Should I go to Pepperdine University or Bucknell University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Pepperdine 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Loyola Marymount Lafayette College Lehigh Villanova Chapman University of Richmond USD Colgate Oxy SCU USC Denison
Pepperdine University vs. Bucknell University comparison
Pepperdine University Bucknell University College 3 College 4
Pepperdine University Bucknell University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Pepperdine Bucknell
Location Malibu, CA Lewisburg, PA
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 10,030 3,787
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #127 #71
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pepperdine.edu bucknell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pepperdine Bucknell
Tuition (In State) $62,390 $61,408
Tuition (Out of State) $62,390 $61,408
Room & Board $18,560 $15,358
Avg Net Price $47,804 $39,965
Avg Grant Aid $32,348 $37,775
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 56%

Admission

Pepperdine Bucknell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,466 11,707
Admitted 5,585 3,811
Acceptance Rate 48.7% 32.6%
Enrolled % 16.9% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 28/32 30/33
SAT Range 1285/1480 1310/1470
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 15, 2025

Academics

Pepperdine Bucknell
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Pepperdine Bucknell
Graduation Rate 81% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $71,700 $76,300
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

Pepperdine Bucknell
% Men 33% 48%
% Women 67% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 47% 77%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 16% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 10% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Pepperdine Bucknell
% In-State 45% 21%
% Out-of-State 43% 74%

Campus

Pepperdine 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

  • Pepperdine University is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (10,030 students vs. 3,787 students)

Pepperdine vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or Bucknell?

  • Pepperdine University is 1.6% more expensive to attend than Bucknell for in-state tuition ($62,390.00 vs. $61,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Pepperdine than Bucknell University ($62,390.00 vs. $61,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bucknell University than Pepperdine ($39,965 vs. $47,804)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 20.8% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($15,358 vs. $18,560)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than Bucknell University (94% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 16.8% larger than aid received Pepperdine University ($37,775 vs. $32,348)

Pepperdine vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bucknell University (1315) is 89 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Pepperdine (28)
  • Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Bucknell (3.62)
  • Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (48.7%) than Bucknell (32.6%)

Pepperdine vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pepperdine 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 Pepperdine.

  • The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than Pepperdine University (91% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $4,600 more per year than Pepperdine graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $71,700)
  • Pepperdine University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Pepperdine 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 Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 75%)

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