Syracuse vs. Bucknell

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

Syracuse University
Bucknell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

Syracuse vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse 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 Bucknell University than Syracuse ($39,003 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 11.8% lower than at Syracuse University ($16,924 vs. $19,188).
  • Bucknell University is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $2,284 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at Bucknell than at Syracuse University (about $2,284 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Bucknell University (76% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 22.8% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($44,734 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Syracuse 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 Syracuse.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bucknell University (1390) is 30 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Bucknell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 1270/1440; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

Syracuse vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse 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 Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bucknell University and Syracuse graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Bucknell University and Syracuse graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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.