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#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

Bucknell Admission Requirements

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

 3 Reviews

Chances of getting into Bucknell University

Acceptance Rate

Admitted 
35%
Admission Difficulty for Bucknell University
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Exceptional 
Applicant Competition High 
How hard is it to get into Bucknell and can I get accepted?

The acceptance rate at Bucknell is 35%.  It ranks #6 in Pennsylvania and #115 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Bucknell is a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Last year, 3,886 out of 11,263 applicants were admitted.

The school has extremely high admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 9 percent on standardized admission tests. Bucknell University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.62. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. 26% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

The Bucknell application fee is $40 and applications are due by Jan 15.

Test Optional

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Bucknell University. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 35% of students submitted SAT scores and 17% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..

Bucknell SAT Scores

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 
1295-1450
Applicants Submitting SAT 
35%
SAT Scores for Bucknell University
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
SAT Reading 25th 640
SAT Math 25th 655
SAT Composite 25th 1295
SAT Scores for Bucknell University
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
SAT Reading 75th 710
SAT Math 75th 740
SAT Composite 75th 1450
Average SAT Score 1370

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Bucknell University?

Bucknell University is a test optional school meaning applicants are not required to submit SAT scores with their application. The position on SAT scores from the school is "considered but not required".

Students who get into Bucknell University score in the top 100 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 1295-1450.

Find other colleges with similar SAT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

Bucknell University admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1450 and Above Good >51%
1372 to 1450 Avg + 35%-51%
1295 to 1372 Avg - 22%-35%
1218 to 1295 Reach 13%-22%
Less than 1218 Low <13%
Calculate My Chances 
Connect with Bucknell

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Bucknell ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 
29-33 
Applicants Submitting ACT 
17%
ACT Scores for Bucknell University
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
ACT Reading 25th 29
ACT Math 25th 27
ACT Composite 25th 29
ACT Scores for Bucknell University
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
ACT Reading 75th 34
ACT Math 75th 33
ACT Composite 75th 33
Average ACT Score 31

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Bucknell?

Bucknell University is test optional. Students are not required to submit ACT scores with their application. The policy on ACT scores is "considered but not required".

Bucknell regularly accepts students who score 29 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 9 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 29-33.

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Bucknell University admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
33 and Above Good >51%
31 to 33 Avg + 35%-51%
29 to 31 Avg - 22%-35%
27 to 29 Reach 13%-22%
Less than 27 Low <13%
Calculate My Chances 

Bucknell GPA

Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 
3.62
Typical High School Grades 
B+

What GPA do you need to get into Bucknell University?

Applicants require very good grades in high school to get into Bucknell. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Bucknell University was 3.62 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #24 in Pennsylvania for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to Bucknell will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.

 What do these ratings mean?

Explore more colleges with similar GPA requirements

High School GPA's for admitted Bucknell University students
High School GPA Freshmen Within Range Competitiveness 
4.0 9.0% Good
3.75 to 3.99 32.0% Avg +
3.50 to 3.74 27.0% Avg -
3.25 to 3.49 19.0% Reach
3.00 to 3.24 9.0% Reach
2.50 to 2.99 4.0% Low
2.00 to 2.49 0% Low
1.00 to 1.99 0% Low
less than 1.00 0% Low

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022

High School Class Rank

59% of Bucknell University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Bucknell University students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 59%
Top 25% of class 86%
Top 50% of class 98%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Bucknell University admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 5,611 5,652 11,263
Accepted 2,135 1,751 3,886
Acceptance Rate 38% 31% 35%
Enrolled 535 492 1,027
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 25% 28% 26%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Fall 2023 Application Deadline

Applications were Due
Jan 15, 2023
Days left to Apply
None

The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 15, 2023.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Bucknell University is $40.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Bucknell University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Bucknell University Application Requirements
Test Scores Considered but not required
High School GPA Required
High School Class Rank Recommended
Completion of College Preparatory Program Required
Recommendations Required
Demonstration of Competencies Considered but not required

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Bucknell University
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences No
Other Colleges to Consider 

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=211291 IPEDS survey data for Bucknell University.

FAQs

Does Bucknell University prefer SAT or ACT?

35% of students submit their SAT scores to Bucknell. 17% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.

What is my chance of getting into Bucknell University?

35% of those who apply are granted admission to Bucknell. Admission competition is high and the college has exceptional admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.

What SAT score is required for Bucknell University?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1295 and 1450. 35% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.

What ACT score is required for Bucknell University?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 29 and 33. 17% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.