Northeastern vs. Bucknell

Deciding between Northeastern University and Bucknell University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northeastern University
Bucknell University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A-
  • Bucknell B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Bucknell Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 25%
  • Bucknell 1%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 22%
  • Bucknell 1%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern Very High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern University in Boston, MA with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

Northeastern vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern or Bucknell? 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 Northeastern University than Bucknell ($34,207 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 13.6% lower than at Northeastern University ($16,924 vs. $19,580).
  • Bucknell University is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern (about $1,650 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at Bucknell than at Northeastern University (about $1,650 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University than at Bucknell University (66% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 12.7% larger than aid received by Bucknell University students ($50,421 vs. $44,734).

Northeastern vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern or Bucknell? 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 Bucknell and Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 100 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Bucknell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Bucknell - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • Bucknell has a higher acceptance rate (28.9%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

Northeastern vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern and Bucknell? 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 Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bucknell University graduates have a $875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Bucknell graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($279 vs. $288).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 79%)

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.