UB vs. Bucknell

Deciding between University at Buffalo 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.

University at Buffalo
Bucknell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

UB vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB 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 University at Buffalo than Bucknell ($20,529 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 2.9% lower than at University at Buffalo ($16,924 vs. $17,426).
  • Bucknell University is 520.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $56,876 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 115% higher at Bucknell than at University at Buffalo (about $36,276 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Bucknell University (76% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 319.5% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($44,734 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UB 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 UB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bucknell University (1390) is 90 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

UB vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $17,900 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 70%)

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.