Rutgers vs. Bucknell

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Bucknell University? 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Bucknell University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

Rutgers vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Bucknell ($20,522 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 7.1% lower than at Bucknell University ($15,714 vs. $16,924).
  • Bucknell University is 278.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $49,883 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.1% higher at Bucknell than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $30,371 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bucknell University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (59% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 167.2% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($44,734 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 20 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Bucknell students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

Rutgers vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,785 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($229 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 68%)

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.