Bentley vs. Bucknell

Bentley University and Bucknell University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Bentley University
Bucknell University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Bucknell (28.9% admitted vs 45.1%). Typical SAT 1390 vs 1360.
  • Cheaper after aid: Bucknell. Average net price is $39,003 vs $45,802 at Bentley.
  • Graduation: Bentley 88% vs Bucknell 91%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bentley $87,200 vs Bucknell $76,300 (median).
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Key differences

Bentley University Bucknell University
Acceptance rate
Bucknell more selective
Bentley45.1%
Bucknell28.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Bucknell higher
Bentley1280-1430
Bucknell1310-1470
Average net price
Bucknell $6,799 less
Bentley$45,802
Bucknell$39,003
In-state tuition
Bentley $6,812 less
Bentley$61,000
Bucknell$67,812
Out-of-state tuition
Bentley $6,812 less
Bentley$61,000
Bucknell$67,812
Graduation rate
Bucknell +3 pts
Bentley88%
Bucknell91%
Median earnings (10 years)
Bentley +$10,900
Bentley$87,200
Bucknell$76,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average high school GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical high school grades
  • Bentley A-
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Bentley Low
  • Bucknell High
  • SAT range
  • Bentley 1280-1430
  • Bucknell 1310-1470
  • ACT range
  • Bentley 28-31
  • Bucknell 30-33
  • Submit test scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average net price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average grant aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • Bucknell 59%
  • Graduation rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Bentley $274
  • Bucknell $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • Bucknell #71

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, MA with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Bentley University is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (5,333 students vs. 3,969 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 16% lower than at Bentley University ($16,924 vs. $20,140).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at Bucknell than at Bentley University (about $6,812 more per year; $67,812 vs. $61,000).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Bucknell University (88% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 32.8% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($44,734 vs. $33,673).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Bucknell than at Bentley (31 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Bentley and Bucknell.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Bentley average a 3.75 high school GPA, 0.13 higher than at Bucknell (3.62).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bentley University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($26,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bentley graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($274 vs. $279).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bucknell students, three years after graduation (92% vs. 89%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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