Bucknell University was founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg and is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. It was the first college chartered by any state legislature in the United States to be founded without religious affiliation. The founders of Bucknell University sought to create an institution of higher learning that would provide a quality education for students regardless of their religious beliefs. The original charter provided for a board of trustees that included both clergy and laymen, and it also specified that no student should be required to subscribe to any particular religious creed or practice.
The university was renamed Bucknell University in 1886 after its most generous benefactor, William Bucknell, who donated $400,000 to the school. In addition to his generous financial gift, Bucknell also contributed greatly to the intellectual life of the university by endowing a number of professorships in areas such as mathematics and science. During his lifetime, he served on the Board of Trustees for over 30 years and was instrumental in helping shape the university’s mission and purpose.
Since its founding, Bucknell has grown significantly both academically and physically. Today it is home to more than 3,600 undergraduate students from all 50 states and more than 60 countries around the world. The university boasts a highly ranked liberal arts college as well as several professional schools including engineering, education, business administration and management science. In recent years it has also increased its research efforts with a number of interdisciplinary research centers focusing on topics such as energy resources, environmental science and global health policy issues.
Bucknell University, as one of the top colleges ranked by major educational institutions, has impressed us by its high selectivity and student friendly application process during admissions. The following tables detail 2018 class profile, including total applications received, average high school GPA, SAT scores/ACT scores, and acceptance rates of Bucknell University. To learn more about GPA, SAT and ACT scores information, please follow the links below. If you want to find even more about Bucknell University, such as tuition fees and scholarships, you can click the link after tables to visit the school’s official website.
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University acronym: https://www.abbreviationfinder.org/acronyms/bu_bucknell-university.html
Admissions Stats
Bucknell University is a highly selective private university located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. It has an acceptance rate of 28% and an average SAT score of 1290-1490. The school offers more than 50 majors in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and business. In addition to its academic programs, Bucknell also features a variety of extracurricular activities for students to get involved in. These include performing arts groups, student organizations, and intramural sports. Furthermore, the university provides housing options for students that range from traditional residence halls to off-campus apartments. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion on campus, Bucknell boasts a student body that is composed of people from all over the world with various backgrounds and perspectives. The university also provides numerous resources for students who need additional support such as counseling services and tutoring programs.
Fall 2022 Selectivity
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2022 acceptance rate | 31% |
| Early decision acceptance rate | 63% |
| Early action acceptance rate | N/A |
| Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students) | 28% |
Fall 2022 Applications, Acceptances & Enrollments
| Applicants | 7,178 |
| Female applicants | 3,429 |
| Male applicants | 3,749 |
| Applicants accepted | 2,253 |
| Female applicants accepted | 1,203 |
| Male applicants accepted | 1,050 |
| Freshman enrollment | 929 |
| Female freshman enrollment | 491 |
| Male freshman enrollment | 438 |
| Early decision applicants | 623 |
| Early decision applicants accepted | 391 |
| Early decision applicants enrolled | 385 |
| Early action applicants | N/A |
| Early action applicants accepted | N/A |
| Early action applicants enrolled | N/A |
| Total enrolled incoming freshmen who were accepted under early acceptance or early action | 41% |
Fall 2022 Wait List
| School has a wait list | Yes |
| Applicants placed on wait list | 1,988 |
| Students accepting place on wait list | 691 |
| Students accepted from wait list | 79 |
Fall 2022 High School Rank
| Freshman students submitting high school class standing | 34% |
Fall 2022 High School GPA
| Freshman students submitting high school GPA | 98% |
| Average high school GPA | 3.5 |
| High school GPA 25th-75th percentile range | 3.2-3.8 |
Fall 2022 Freshman SAT Scores
| Freshman students submitting SAT scores | 70% |
| SAT Critical Reading average score | 635 |
| SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range | 590-670 |
| SAT Math average score | 671 |
| SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range: | 630-710 |
| SAT Writing average score | 644 |
| SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range | 600-690 |
| SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
Fall 2022 Freshman ACT Scores
| Freshman students submitting ACT scores | 40% |
| Average ACT Composite score | 29 |
| ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range | 27-31 |
| ACT English 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
| ACT English score breakdown | N/A |
| ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
| ACT Math score breakdown | N/A |