Purchase College vs. Bucknell

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

Purchase College Bucknell
Location Purchase, NY Lewisburg, PA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 3,182 3,787
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #319 #71
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website purchase.edu bucknell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Purchase College Bucknell
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $61,408
Tuition (Out of State) $16,980 $61,408
Room & Board $14,948 $15,358
Avg Net Price $19,434 $39,965
Avg Grant Aid $10,312 $37,775
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 56%

Admission

Purchase College Bucknell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,747 11,707
Admitted 4,292 3,811
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 32.6%
Enrolled % 16% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.62
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 29/31 30/33
SAT Range 1190/1350 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 Jul 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Purchase College Bucknell
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Purchase College Bucknell
Graduation Rate 56% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,200 $76,300
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $279

Diversity

Purchase College Bucknell
% Men 42% 48%
% Women 58% 52%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 77%
% Black 10% 3%
% Hispanic 18% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Purchase College Bucknell
% In-State 85% 21%
% Out-of-State 14% 74%

Campus

Purchase College 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

  • Bucknell University is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (3,787 students vs. 3,182 students)

Purchase College vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Bucknell?

  • Bucknell University is 768.6% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 261.6% higher at Bucknell than SUNY at Purchase College ($61,408.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than Bucknell ($19,434 vs. $39,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 2.7% lower than costs at Bucknell University ($14,948 vs. $15,358)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than Bucknell University (73% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 266.3% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($37,775 vs. $10,312)

Purchase College vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bucknell University (1315) is 233 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Purchase College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Bucknell students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Bucknell (32.6%)

Purchase College vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Purchase College 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 Purchase College.

  • The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (91% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $36,100 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $40,200)
  • SUNY at Purchase College students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Purchase College graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 65%)

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