Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Lafayette College TCU Lehigh Baylor Villanova UT Austin UT Dallas University of Richmond Colgate Texas A&M Tulane Rice| Bucknell University | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Bucknell | SMU | ||
| Location | Lewisburg, PA | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,787 | 12,053 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #71 | #67 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bucknell.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bucknell | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $61,408 | $55,012 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $61,408 | $55,012 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,358 | $17,750 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $39,965 | $45,094 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $37,775 | $35,344 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 56% | 73% |
Admission |
Bucknell | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,707 | 16,150 | ||
| Admitted | 3,811 | 8,439 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 32.6% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.1% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.62 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1310/1470 | 1370/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2024 | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
Bucknell | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Bucknell | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $76,300 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 89% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $222 |
Diversity |
Bucknell | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 48% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 52% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Bucknell | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 21% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 74% | 58% | ||
Campus |
Bucknell | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 3,787 students)
Bucknell vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bucknell or SMU?
- Bucknell University is 11.6% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- Out of state tuition is 11.6% higher at Bucknell than Southern Methodist University ($61,408.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bucknell University than SMU ($39,965 vs. $45,094)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 15.6% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($15,358 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Bucknell University (73% vs. 56%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 6.9% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($37,775 vs. $35,344)
Bucknell vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bucknell or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Bucknell .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 15 points higher than at Bucknell (1315)
- Incoming Bucknell students have at the same average ACT score (30) as students at SMU (30)
- Accepted freshman SMU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Bucknell (3.62)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Bucknell (32.6%)
Bucknell vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bucknell or SMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMU and Bucknell.
- The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than Southern Methodist University (91% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $3,300 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $73,000)
- Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
- SMU graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
- More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/