Princeton vs. Bucknell

Should I go to Princeton University or Bucknell University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Princeton or Bucknell is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Princeton University vs. Bucknell University comparison
Princeton University Bucknell University College 3 College 4
Princeton University Bucknell University
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Overview

Princeton Bucknell
Location Princeton, NJ Lewisburg, PA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 8,842 3,787
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1 #71
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website princeton.edu bucknell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Princeton Bucknell
Tuition (In State) $57,410 $61,408
Tuition (Out of State) $57,410 $61,408
Room & Board $18,630 $15,358
Avg Net Price $18,698 $39,965
Avg Grant Aid $59,792 $37,775
% Receiving Grant Aid 61% 56%

Admission

Princeton Bucknell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 38,019 11,707
Admitted 2,167 3,811
Acceptance Rate 5.7% 32.6%
Enrolled % 69.2% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.93 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 33/35 30/33
SAT Range 1490/1580 1310/1470
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 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Princeton Bucknell
Student to Faculty Ratio 5:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • History (7%)
  • Human Services (7%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Princeton Bucknell
Graduation Rate 96% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $113,900 $76,300
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $7,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $77 $279

Diversity

Princeton Bucknell
% Men 53% 48%
% Women 47% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 45% 77%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 11% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Princeton Bucknell
% In-State 16% 21%
% Out-of-State 69% 74%

Campus

Princeton Bucknell
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Princeton University is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (8,842 students vs. 3,787 students)

Princeton vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton or Bucknell?

  • Bucknell University is 7% more expensive to attend than Princeton for in-state tuition ($61,408.00 vs. $57,410.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7% higher at Bucknell than Princeton University ($61,408.00 vs. $57,410.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Princeton University than Bucknell ($18,698 vs. $39,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 21.3% lower than costs at Princeton University ($15,358 vs. $18,630)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Princeton University than Bucknell University (61% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 58.3% larger than aid received Bucknell University ($59,792 vs. $37,775)

Princeton vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Princeton or Bucknell? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bucknell or Princeton .

  • The average SAT score at Princeton University (1490) is 175 points higher than at Bucknell (1315)
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Bucknell (30)
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Bucknell (3.62)
  • Bucknell has a higher acceptance rate (32.6%) than Princeton (5.7%)

Princeton vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Princeton or Bucknell? 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 Bucknell and Princeton.

  • The graduation rate at Princeton is higher than Bucknell University (96% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn on average $37,600 more per year than Bucknell graduates after ten years. ($113,900 vs. $76,300)
  • Princeton University students graduate with a $19,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($7,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Princeton graduates are paying $202 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($77 vs. $279)
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/