Getting in
For Fall 2025, 11,561 first-year students applied to Bucknell, 3,723 were admitted and 1,037 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 32.2%.
Source: Bucknell Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | 2,044 | 751 | 36.7% |
| Out-of-state | 6,884 | 2,816 | 40.9% |
| International | 2,631 | 156 | 5.9% |
Source: Bucknell Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table (2 applicants of unknown residency are in the total only). Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. Bucknell's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the university, with no rate by college or major.
Source: Bucknell Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early Decision. The Common Data Set gives one count for Early Decision I and II together. Bucknell has no early action plan.
Early Decision, Fall 2025
| Plan | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I and II | 1,200 | 656 | 54.7% |
Source: Bucknell Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
You apply to one of Bucknell's three colleges, all on the same application, and choose an intended major or "undecided" within it:
- College of Engineering. One year of chemistry or physics and one year of precalculus; Bucknell strongly recommends at least three years of science, including both chemistry and physics. Moving into engineering later from another college is limited.
- Freeman College of Management. Enrollment is limited to students admitted directly into the college when they first apply to Bucknell.
- Math, science, engineering, accounting, business analytics and economics majors. One year of precalculus, and preferably calculus, on top of the courses every applicant needs.
Source: Bucknell Admissions, Undergraduate Admission Requirements (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
74 majors across 3 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in Bucknell's official 2026-2027 Catalog, grouped by the college that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Concentrations are folded into their major. Minors and graduate programs are left out.
College of Arts & Sciences60
- Animal Behavior (B.A.)
- Animal Behavior (B.S.)
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Applied Mathematics (B.S.)
- Art & Design (B.A.)
- Art History (B.A.)
- Biology (B.A.)
- Biology (B.S.)
- Biophysics (B.S.)
- Cell Biology/Biochemistry (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.A.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Chinese (B.A.)
- Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies (B.A.)
- Comparative & Digital Humanities (B.A.)
- Computer Science (B.A.)
- Computer Science (B.S.)
- Creative Writing (B.A.)
- Critical Black Studies (B.A.)
- Early Childhood Education (Pre-K to grade 4) (B.S. Ed.)
- East Asian Studies (B.A.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Education (B.A.)
- English: Literary Studies (B.A.)
- Environmental Science (B.A.)
- Environmental Studies (B.A.)
- Film & Media Studies (B.A.)
- French & Francophone Studies (B.A.)
- Geography (B.A.)
- Geosciences (B.A.)
- Geosciences (B.S.)
- German (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- International Relations (B.A.)
- Italian Studies (B.A.)
- Japanese (B.A.)
- Latin American, Latinx & Caribbean Studies (B.A.)
- Linguistics (B.A.)
- Mathematical Economics (B.S.)
- Mathematics (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.S.)
- Music (B.A.)
- Music Education (B.Mus.)
- Neuroscience (B.S.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Physics (B.A.)
- Physics (B.S.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Religious Studies (B.A.)
- Russian Studies (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Spanish (B.A.)
- Statistics (B.S.)
- Theatre (B.A.)
- Vocal Performance (B.Mus.)
- Women's & Gender Studies (B.A.)
- Data Science (B.A.)A co-major, taken together with a technical major in business analytics, computer science, statistics or mathematics.
- Liberal Studies (B.A.)A major you design and propose, approved by an adviser and the associate dean.
- Individual Interdepartmental Major (B.A.)A major you design across departments.
Source: Bucknell 2026-2027 Catalog, College of Arts & Sciences, Areas of Study (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Engineering8
Any engineering B.S. can be combined with a B.A. or with the Bachelor of Management for Engineers in a five-year program.
- Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (B.S.)
- Civil Engineering (B.S.)
- Computer Engineering (B.S.)
- Computer Science & Engineering (B.S.)
- Electrical Engineering (B.S.)
- Environmental Engineering (B.S.)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)
Source: Bucknell 2026-2027 Catalog, College of Engineering, Areas of Study (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Freeman College of Management6
- Accounting (BSBA)
- Business Analytics (BSBA)
- Finance (BSBA)
- Management & Organizations (BSBA)
- Markets, Innovation & Design (BSBA)
- Management for Engineers (BME)Only in the five-year program, together with a B.S. in an engineering discipline; your home college is the College of Engineering.
Source: Bucknell 2026-2027 Catalog, Freeman College of Management, Areas of Study (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | Early December | Yes |
| Early Decision II | January 10 | Mid-February | Yes |
| Regular Decision | January 10 | Mid-March | No |
The application opens August 1, 2026, on the Common Application or the Coalition Application (powered by Scoir). The scholarship application, CSS Profile and FAFSA are due with the application in each round. Enrollment deposits are due in mid-December (Early Decision I), late February (Early Decision II) and May 1, 2027 (Regular Decision).
Source: Bucknell Admissions, Admissions Dates & Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early Decision I and II are binding: if admitted, you must accept and withdraw your applications to other colleges. If your application is moved to Regular Decision, you are no longer bound; if you are denied, you cannot reapply until the next cycle. You can switch a Regular Decision application to Early Decision I or II with the Common App or Coalition App agreement.
Source: Bucknell Admissions, Apply to Bucknell (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Bucknell does not require SAT or ACT scores, though you are welcome to send them. Bucknell calls its test-optional policy a pilot: if you enroll and have taken the SAT or ACT, you must send official scores, which are used only for research and do not change your admission decision.
Source: Bucknell Admissions, Admissions Dates & Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 applicants, but considered if submitted, with scores due by February 15.
Source: Bucknell Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Bucknell's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Bucknell Admissions, Apply to Bucknell (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Bucknell, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $72,600 |
|---|---|
| Required fees | $900 |
| Food and housing (on campus) | $18,380 |
| Books and supplies | $900 |
| Transportation | $800 |
| Other expenses | $2,000 |
| Total | $95,580 |
For a full-time undergraduate living on campus.
Source: Bucknell Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections G1 and G5. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $20,980 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $12,276 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $23,679 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $28,165 |
| Over $110,000 | $55,724 |
| All incomes | $40,766 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Bucknell's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Bucknell University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA · Private29% admitted$36,931 average net price
Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA · Private28.1% admitted$43,756 average net price
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH · Private35.3% admitted$41,190 average net price
University of RochesterRochester, NY · Private41.9% admitted$29,278 average net price
Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY · Private23.8% admitted$32,297 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.