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Bucknell University

#6 Best Engineering Colleges in Pennsylvania
Private nonprofit Lewisburg, PA · Town · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A+ Earnings A Selectivity A Graduation
Graduation Rate
86% A
Most students who enroll finish their degree here
Earnings (10yr)
$93,807 A+
Top 1% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$40,766 F
138% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
29% A
Admits roughly 29% — highly selective
Earnings +130% vs avg
Graduation +51% vs avg
Net Price 138% vs avg
Mobility Top 50%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.2 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Engineering Colleges in Pennsylvania.

14.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $14.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,156,813.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduates earn 130% more than the national college median.

  3. A 86% graduation rate — 51% above the national average.

  4. Inventor rate in the top 19% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.

  5. A top feeder school for 8 major employers.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
1.3%
Top 19%
Patents
76
Linked to graduates
Employer Pipelines
8
Top feeder programs
Patent Citations
49
Downstream influence

Why Bucknell University Matters

Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 1% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Liberal Arts College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
Enrollment
3,876
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Social Sciences, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Bucknell University

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Entrepreneurial, inventive students
Above-average inventor and patent activity
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 1% of colleges
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 41% overall
A+
Earnings
$93,807 median
C-
Value
2.3× net price
F
Affordability
$40,766/yr net
A
Graduation
86% graduate
C
Social Mobility
1.5% climb Q1→Q5
A
Selectivity
29% admit rate
D+
Diversity
0.44 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →
1
Can I Get In?

Admissions

Selective
29% admit rate

Selective — admits about 29% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1310–1470. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.

Check your odds →
2
Can I Afford It?

Net price + aid

F
$40,766/yr net

Students pay about $40,766 a year after grants and scholarships — 138% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.

See cost & aid →
3
What Happens After?

Earnings + debt

A+
$93,807 median

Graduates earn a median of $93,807 ten years after enrolling — 130% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.

See outcomes →
4
Does It Change Lives?

Mobility + social capital

C
1.5% climb

Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 50% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.84 economic connectedness).

See mobility →

Overview

With an enrollment of about 3,876 students, Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, is an excellent fit for those seeking a close-knit academic community. The school has a 29% acceptance rate, which reflects a selective approach to admissions, and an impressive graduation rate of 86%. Students here typically dive into programs like Social Sciences, Engineering, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, and Psychology, gaining both depth and breadth in their fields.

After graduation, Bucknell alumni find themselves in strong positions, with earnings averaging $93,807 a decade after they leave. This figure illustrates a solid return on investment for the education received, helping graduates build successful careers. While the median debt stands at $27,000, the balance seems manageable when considering the financial pathways that open up for graduates.

When we look at the cost of attendance, the net price after aid is about $40,766, which can feel significant but is often offset by the financial advantages graduates experience. Students who thrive here generally come with a sense of ambition and a commitment to making the most of the resources available. Bucknell seems to attract those ready to engage deeply in their studies and leverage their education for future success.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Bucknell University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Bucknell University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Bucknell University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 29%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,410. The graduation rate is roughly 86%.

Acceptance Rate
29%
Retention Rate
94%
SAT Average
1410
ACT Midpoint
31
SAT Range
1310–1470
ACT Range
30–33
Full-Time Faculty
97%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$13,254
Student–Faculty Ratio
9:1
Diversity Index
0.44
First-Gen Students
12%
Applicants
11,707
Admitted
3,811

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25

The acceptance rate tells you how hard Bucknell University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 28% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.

Yield Rate
28%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
68%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
18%
of enrolled freshmen
Early Decision Admit Rate
54.7%
vs 32.2% overall

Applying early pays off here. Of 1,200 Early Decision applicants, 656 were admitted — a 54.7% admit rate, roughly 1.7× the 32.2% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 63% of the entering class (656 of 1,037 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.

Source: Bucknell University's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bucknell University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Bucknell University is $67,812, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $40,766. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,980 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$67,812
Out-of-State
$67,812
Avg Net Price
$40,766
Median Debt
$27,000
Pell Grant Rate
12%
Federal Loan Rate
35%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$20,980
Family Income $30K–$48K
$12,276
Family Income $48K–$75K
$23,679
Family Income $110K+
$55,724

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bucknell University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Bucknell University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Bucknell University earn a median of $93,807, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$78,852
8 Years
$88,483
10 Years
$93,807
Debt-to-Earnings
0.29x
Earning > $25K
88%

Earnings Trajectory

$78,852 6yr $88,483 8yr $93,807 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (784)
84%
100% (784)
84%
100% (784)
84%
100% (784)
84%

Where Grads Go

Bucknell University is a top feeder for:

Rank among programs feeding each employer.

Top employers of Bucknell University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.

Explore the Career Destination Guide → Source: Bucknell University — Full-Time MBA Employment Report (Class of 2024)

How Bucknell Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation86%Earnings 10yr$94KNet Price$41KRetention94%Median Debt$27KPell Grant Rate12%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$21K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$24K$48-75K$56K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%2.6%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%55.1%MOBILITY1.46%

College ROI Calculator

Is Bucknell University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Bucknell University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $40,766/year ($163,064 total). Graduates earn $93,807 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,319,877 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,156,813 (14.2× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 86% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$163,064
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,319,877
Net Return
$2,156,813
ROI Multiple
14.2×
Cost Per Year
$40,766
Median Debt
$27,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
86%
Explore all Bucknell University ROI scenarios

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Bucknell University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Bucknell University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.46%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 2.6% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 55.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $149,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.46%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
55.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
2.6%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$203,526
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Bucknell University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bucknell University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.84
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.1%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Bucknell University produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 19% nationally), with 76 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
1.30%
Top 19% nationally
Patents Produced
76
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
49
Downstream influence
Inventors From Low-Income
1.10%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$4,208,000
Investment Income
$-22,505,000

Top Programs

The fields Bucknell University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Top Careers

Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bucknell University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Bucknell University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Bucknell University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 29%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,410. The graduation rate is roughly 86%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bucknell University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Bucknell University is $67,812, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $40,766. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,980 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

Is Bucknell University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Bucknell University earn a median of $93,807, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does Bucknell University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Bucknell University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.46%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 2.6% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 55.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $149,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Bucknell University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bucknell University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Does Bucknell University offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?

Yes. Bucknell University offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 55%, about 1.7 times the overall 32% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 63% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Bucknell University is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).

Is Bucknell University really test-optional?

Bucknell University reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 86% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2024-25 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.

What percentage of admitted students enroll at Bucknell University?

About 28% of admitted students choose to enroll at Bucknell University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

Compare Bucknell University

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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