Chances of getting into Bucknell University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Exceptional | |
| Applicant Competition | High |
How hard is it to get into Bucknell and can I get accepted? The school has a 38% acceptance rate ranking it #9 in Pennsylvania for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 3,712 out of 9,890 applicants were admitted making Bucknell a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has extremely high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 15 percent. Bucknell University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students. Only 27% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
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. 67% of students submitted SAT scores and 43% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..
Bucknell SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 620 |
| SAT Math 25th | 630 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1250 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 700 |
| SAT Math 75th | 730 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1430 |
| Average SAT Score | 1340 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Bucknell University?
Bucknell University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 18 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1250 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1160. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1340 out of 1600. The school ranks #8 in Pennsylvania for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 67 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1430 and Above | Good | >51% |
| 1340 to 1430 | Avg + | 38%-51% |
| 1250 to 1340 | Avg - | 26%-38% |
| 1160 to 1250 | Reach | 17%-26% |
| Less than 1160 | Low | <17% |
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Bucknell ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 29 |
| ACT Math 25th | 26 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 28 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 34 |
| ACT Math 75th | 30 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 32 |
| Average ACT Score | 30 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Bucknell?
Admission data indicates that Bucknell regularly accepts students with ACT's of 28 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 12 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 26 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 30 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 32 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #7 in Pennsylvania for highest average ACT composite score. 43 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Bucknell University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 32 and Above | Good | >51% |
| 30 to 32 | Avg + | 38%-51% |
| 28 to 30 | Avg - | 26%-38% |
| 26 to 28 | Reach | 17%-26% |
| Less than 26 | Low | <17% |
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Bucknell GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
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 3.61 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #23 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.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 6.69% | Good |
| 3.75 to 3.99 | 32.35% | Avg + |
| 3.50 to 3.74 | 28.5% | Avg - |
| 3.25 to 3.49 | 20.69% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.24 | 10.34% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.99 | 1.42% | Reach |
| 2.00 to 2.49 | 0% | Reach |
| 1.00 to 1.99 | 0% | Reach |
| less than 1.00 | 0% | Reach |
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
54% of Bucknell University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 54% |
| Top 25% of class | 90% |
| Top 50% of class | 98% |
| Lower 50% of class | 2% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 4,878 | 5,012 | 9,890 |
| Accepted | 1,937 | 1,775 | 3,712 |
| Acceptance Rate | 40% | 35% | 38% |
| Enrolled | 527 | 459 | 986 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 27% | 26% | 27% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 15, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Bucknell University is $40.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Bucknell University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| 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
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
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?
67% of students submit their SAT scores to Bucknell. 43% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Bucknell University?
38% 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 1250 and 1430. 67% 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 28 and 32. 43% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.