Bucknell vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Bucknell University and Virginia Tech? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bucknell University
Virginia Tech

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bucknell #71
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bucknell -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bucknell
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bucknell 59%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bucknell 31
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bucknell B+
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bucknell High
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bucknell Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bucknell $279
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bucknell 43%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • Bucknell 57%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bucknell Low
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Bucknell No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Bucknell 77%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Bucknell 4%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Bucknell 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bucknell 6%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Bucknell 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bucknell 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bucknell 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Bucknell 5%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bucknell 0%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bucknell 19%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bucknell 77%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bucknell Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bucknell Yes
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bucknell Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bucknell No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bucknell No
  • Virginia Tech No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bucknell University 9:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Bucknell vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bucknell or Virginia Tech? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Tech than Bucknell ($24,912 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 2.2% lower than at Bucknell University ($16,550 vs. $16,924).
  • Bucknell University is 325.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $51,864 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.6% higher at Bucknell than at Virginia Tech (about $30,048 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at Bucknell University (60% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 387.9% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($44,734 vs. $9,168).

Bucknell vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bucknell or Virginia Tech? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Virginia Tech and Bucknell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bucknell University (1390) is 20 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bucknell University 1310/1470; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bucknell University 30/33; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bucknell - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bucknell Jan 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.1% at Bucknell vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Bucknell vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bucknell and Virginia Tech? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Bucknell University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Virginia Tech's (82%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $65,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have a $3,034 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($23,966 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($247 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.