Rutgers vs. Bucknell

Should I go to Rutgers University New Brunswick or Bucknell University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rutgers 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.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick vs. Bucknell University comparison
Rutgers University New Brunswick Bucknell University College 3 College 4
Rutgers University New Brunswick Bucknell University
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Overview

 Rutgers Bucknell
Location New Brunswick, NJ Lewisburg, PA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 50,637 3,787
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #112 #71
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu bucknell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers Bucknell
Tuition (In State) $12,900 $61,408
Tuition (Out of State) $30,600 $61,408
Room & Board $13,909 $15,358
Avg Net Price $17,535 $39,965
Avg Grant Aid $12,785 $37,775
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 56%

Admission

 Rutgers Bucknell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 41,654 11,707
Admitted 27,612 3,811
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 32.6%
Enrolled % 28.2% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.62
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 28/33 30/33
SAT Range 1270/1480 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

Academics

 Rutgers Bucknell
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers Bucknell
Graduation Rate 77% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $76,300
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $229 $279

Diversity

 Rutgers Bucknell
% Men 46% 48%
% Women 54% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 42% 77%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 13% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 7% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Rutgers Bucknell
% In-State 85% 21%
% Out-of-State 8% 74%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (50,637 students vs. 3,787 students)

Rutgers vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Bucknell?

  • Bucknell University is 376% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $12,900.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 100.7% higher at Bucknell than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($61,408.00 vs. $30,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Bucknell ($17,535 vs. $39,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 10.4% lower than costs at Bucknell University ($13,909 vs. $15,358)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Bucknell University (57% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 195.5% larger than aid received Rutgers University New Brunswick ($37,775 vs. $12,785)

Rutgers vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bucknell University (1315) is 90 points higher than at Rutgers (1225)
  • Accepted freshman Bucknell students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than Bucknell (32.6%)

Rutgers vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick (91% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $10,100 more per year than Rutgers graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $66,200)
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick students graduate with a $4,785 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($22,215 vs. $27,000)
  • Rutgers graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($229 vs. $279)
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 68%)

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