More selective than 93% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
27% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 10% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Bucknell University over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
High school GPA of Bucknell University first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.58. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
100% of first-year students reported a high school GPA.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
55% of early decision applicants were admitted (656 of 1,200). Admitted students must enroll.
2,908 offered a spot, 1,384 took it, 150 admitted.
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Bucknell University SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Bucknell University is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 650 | 730 |
| SAT math | 660 | 740 |
| ACT composite | 30 | 33 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1310 | 1470 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Bucknell University admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 29% | 650–730 | 660–740 | 30–33 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 32% | 640–710 | 660–740 | 31–33 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Bucknell University compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Bucknell University has the 9th-lowest acceptance rate of 111 Pennsylvania colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Haverford College | 12% | 90% | $25,314 |
| 6 | Lehigh University | 26% | 88% | $36,931 |
| 7 | Villanova University | 27% | 92% | $43,756 |
| 8 | Franklin and Marshall College | 28% | 84% | $36,425 |
| 9 | Bucknell University | 29% | 86% | $40,766 |
| 10 | Bryn Mawr College | 29% | 82% | $31,759 |
| 11 | Lafayette College | 31% | 88% | $34,433 |
| 12 | Gettysburg College | 39% | 83% | $31,490 |
| 13 | Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster | 41% | 69% | $42,478 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Pennsylvania colleges →
Who enrolls at Bucknell University
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Bucknell University admissions questions
What is the Bucknell University acceptance rate?
Bucknell University accepts 29% of applicants, about 1 in 3. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 3,524 of 11,010 applicants were admitted.
Does Bucknell University require the SAT or ACT?
Bucknell University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 27% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 10% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Bucknell University?
The middle 50% of Bucknell University enrolled first-year students scored 1310–1470 on the SAT and 30–33 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Bucknell University?
29% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (1,030 of 3,524).
Does Bucknell University have early decision?
Yes. Bucknell University offers binding early decision; 55% of early decision applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (656 of 1,200).
How many students get off the Bucknell University waitlist?
For fall 2025, 2,908 applicants were offered a waitlist spot, 1,384 accepted one and 150 were admitted (11% of those who stayed on the list).
Is Bucknell University getting harder to get into?
Bucknell University accepted 29% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 32% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Bucknell University's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Bucknell University overview