SCU vs. Bucknell

Deciding between Santa Clara 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.

Santa Clara University
Bucknell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

SCU vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU 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 Bucknell University than SCU ($39,003 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 14.9% lower than at Santa Clara University ($16,924 vs. $19,893).
  • Bucknell University is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $6,519 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Bucknell than at Santa Clara University (about $6,519 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Bucknell University (71% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 57.7% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($44,734 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU 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 SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 30 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Bucknell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SCU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

SCU vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU 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 Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Bucknell graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $76,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SCU 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 SCU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.