Maryland vs. Bucknell

Deciding between University of Maryland College Park 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 of Maryland College Park
Bucknell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Maryland College Park, MD
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Maryland Large Suburban
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Maryland 41,725
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • Maryland Public 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Maryland #85
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Maryland -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • Maryland Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Maryland
  • Bucknell
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Maryland $11,809
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Maryland $41,186
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • Maryland $15,958
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • Maryland $16,581
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Maryland $12,867
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Maryland 55%
  • Bucknell 59%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Maryland 60,056
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • Maryland 26,902
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Maryland 44.8%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Maryland 21.6%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Maryland 1470
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Maryland 33
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Maryland 3.84
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Maryland A-
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Maryland Elite
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Maryland Low
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • Maryland 32/35
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Maryland 1400/1530
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Maryland Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Maryland
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Maryland 17:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Maryland
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Maryland 82%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Maryland $68,300
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Maryland 80%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Maryland $19,500
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Maryland $201
  • Bucknell $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Maryland 51%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • Maryland 49%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Maryland High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • Maryland No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • Maryland 52%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • Maryland 16%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • Maryland 13%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Maryland 9%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • Maryland 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Maryland 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Maryland 4%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • Maryland 4%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Maryland 1%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Maryland 70%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Maryland 28%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland College Park in College Park, MD with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland College Park is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (41,725 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland College Park is located in College Park, MD (Large Suburban setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Maryland College Park is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland College Park 17:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

Maryland vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland 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 of Maryland College Park than Bucknell ($16,581 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 5.7% lower than at Bucknell University ($15,958 vs. $16,924).
  • Bucknell University is 474.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maryland (about $56,003 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $11,809.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.6% higher at Bucknell than at University of Maryland College Park (about $26,626 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $41,186.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bucknell University than at University of Maryland College Park (59% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 247.7% larger than aid received by University of Maryland College Park students ($44,734 vs. $12,867).

Maryland vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maryland 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 Maryland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland College Park (1470) is 80 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming Maryland students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Bucknell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 32/35; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maryland - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.8%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Maryland vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

Maryland vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maryland 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 of Maryland College Park's (82%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than Maryland graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $68,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland College Park graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Maryland 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 Maryland students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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.