Are you a prospective Bison? Bucknell University welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. But not everyone who applies is admitted. What GPA do you need to apply, and how should future Bisons prepare? You have questions. Ivy Coach has data-informed answers.

Bucknell University Admissions Rate

Is Bucknell among the more selective schools out there? Not exactly. For applicants to Bucknell’s Class of 2029, around 1/3rd (32.2%) earned admission. The competition was even more stringent the year before (but still not so bad), when 28.93% earned admission to the Class of 2028. So, while you could surely find more selective schools, admission to Bucknell is no cakewalk!

What is a Good GPA for Getting into Bucknell University?

GPA Percentage of Bucknell University Class of 2028

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of Bucknell’s Class of 2028, as reported in Bucknell’s 2024-25 Common Data Set:

GPA	Percentage of Bucknell University Class of 2028
4.0	7.47%
3.75-3.99	30.37%
3.5-3.74	30.68%
3.25-3.49	20.38%
3.0-3.24	9.08%
2.5-2.99	2.02%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of Bucknell University Class of 2027

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of Bucknell’s Class of 2027:

GPA	Percentage of Bucknell University Class of 2027
4.0	8.45%
3.75-3.99	34.95%
3.5-3.74	29.61%
3.25-3.49	17.57%
3.0-3.24	7.86%
2.5-2.99	1.50%
2.0-2.49	0.10%

GPA Percentage of Bucknell University Class of 2026

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of Bucknell’s Class of 2026:

GPA	Percentage of Bucknell University Class of 2026
4.0	10.06%
3.75-3.99	29.98%
3.5-3.74	28.63%
3.25-3.49	19.25%
3.0-3.24	8.70%
2.5-2.99	3.38%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0 and 1.99	0%

Further Context on GPAs of Bucknell University Students

In the last admission cycle, only 7.47% of students who enrolled in Bucknell’s Class of 2028 applied with perfect GPAs, while 8.45% of students in Bucknell’s Class of 2027 and 10.06% of students in Bucknell’s Class of 2026 boasted perfect GPAs. In other words, a high GPA clearly is not that important to Bucknell admissions officers (at least relative to other schools of Bucknell’s caliber).

Even students with GPAs below 3.5 have been admitted to Bucknell at a rate of about 30% during this time period.

So what factors are being weighed in place of GPA? Well, considering Bucknell employs a holistic admissions process, what about the high school attended, the rigor of the student’s coursework, their extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation? Each is a critical piece in the mosaic of a student’s admissions odds. And no, we at Ivy Coach cannot assess your child’s likelihood of acceptance to Bucknell based solely on their GPA.

Can I Get into Bucknell University with a Low GPA?

You have more of a chance of getting into Bucknell if your GPA is below 3.5 than at other elite schools. Students who are recruited athletes or the children of major donors might even get in with GPAs below 3.0 with ease (because these special statuses are institutionally beneficial, and admissions officers must ultimately serve a bottom line). However, we’re not suggesting that you should apply to Bucknell with a low GPA — you’ll still be at a disadvantage compared to the student with stellar grades.

How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at Bucknell University

If you’re interested in helping your child optimize their odds of Bucknell admission, we recommend setting up an Ivy Coach Strategy Session. Our team of former elite college admissions officers will work with you to determine whether your child has a chance of getting into Bucknell University and develop a strategy to optimize their odds of admission to the best school possible. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.