Bucknell University acceptance rate and admissions profile
Bucknell University is a private college in Pennsylvania that admits roughly 29% of applicants, which puts it in the selective range. A rate like this means it admits a minority of applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what Bucknell University weighs, where it ranks among Pennsylvania schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1410, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into Bucknell University?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Bucknell University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into Bucknell University?
At Bucknell University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 29% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Bucknell University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is Bucknell University hard to get into?
Bucknell University is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 29% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.
What GPA do you need to get into Bucknell University?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at Bucknell University, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Bucknell University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for Bucknell University?
Bucknell University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1410. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Bucknell University.
What Bucknell University looks for
What Bucknell University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
Bucknell University signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Bucknell University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at Bucknell University
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How Bucknell University compares in Pennsylvania
Bucknell University ranks #8 most selective of 62 schools in Pennsylvania in our database.
Among the 62 Pennsylvania schools we track, Bucknell University ranks #8 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Pennsylvania (5%) and Swarthmore College (7%) sit nearby, which makes Pennsylvania a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.
Similar to Bucknell University
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If Bucknell University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Bryn Mawr College, Macalester College, and Mississippi College. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bucknell University value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, Bucknell University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does Bucknell University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?
Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Bucknell University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.
How can I improve my chances at Bucknell University?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Bucknell University specifically.
Is Bucknell University test-optional?
Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Bucknell University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1410; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.