RPI vs. Bucknell

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

Lafayette College RIT Lehigh Villanova Stevens University of Richmond Colgate Binghamton University Northeastern U of R MIT Denison
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs. Bucknell University comparison
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Bucknell University College 3 College 4
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Bucknell University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 RPI Bucknell
Location Troy, NY Lewisburg, PA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 6,968 3,787
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #110 #71
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu bucknell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI Bucknell
Tuition (In State) $58,600 $61,408
Tuition (Out of State) $58,600 $61,408
Room & Board $16,980 $15,358
Avg Net Price $39,127 $39,965
Avg Grant Aid $38,636 $37,775
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 56%

Admission

 RPI Bucknell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,863 11,707
Admitted 10,878 3,811
Acceptance Rate 64.5% 32.6%
Enrolled % 18.4% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 30/34 30/33
SAT Range 1360/1520 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

 RPI Bucknell
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

 RPI Bucknell
Graduation Rate 84% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $76,300
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $279

Diversity

 RPI Bucknell
% Men 69% 48%
% Women 31% 52%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 77%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 11% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 RPI Bucknell
% In-State 36% 21%
% Out-of-State 58% 74%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 3,787 students)

RPI vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Bucknell?

  • Bucknell University is 4.8% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.8% higher at Bucknell than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($61,408.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Bucknell ($39,127 vs. $39,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 10.6% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($15,358 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Bucknell University (90% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 2.3% larger than aid received Bucknell University ($38,636 vs. $37,775)

RPI vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 53 points higher than at Bucknell (1315)
  • Incoming RPI students have at the same average ACT score (30) as students at Bucknell (30)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Bucknell (3.62)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Bucknell (32.6%)

RPI vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RPI 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 RPI.

  • The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (91% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $6,200 more per year than Bucknell graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $76,300)
  • Bucknell University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Bucknell graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bucknell students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

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