If you’re reading this, it’s likely you’re wondering whether your child can get into Bucknell University. Well, look no further! We’re going to dive into all of the information below. But first, let’s get an overview of what Bucknell has to offer. 

About Bucknell University

Bucknell is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1846 as the University of Lewisburg. Today, it consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering.

Overlooking the Susquehanna River and with only 3,900 undergraduates, Bucknell is an idyllic spot for students who want a small school’s charm but a research institution’s heft. And it’s a great school for students who want both liberal arts course offerings and professional training. 

Only 32% of applicants were admitted to Bucknell’s Class of 2028, the most recently available data. This makes Bucknell a competitive institution, and it also means that getting in will require some strategic planning (and the help of Ivy Coach’s college admissions experts certainly wouldn’t hurt!). 

Bucknell Admissions Requirements

There’s no copy-and-paste format for a successful application to Bucknell University.  Obviously, stellar grades, strong test scores, and impressive extracurricular achievements are the beginning of what separates the wheat from the chaff. But Bucknell maintains a holistic review process, meaning they review each applicant in his or her own unique context. That said, admits to Bucknell do share some familiarities. Reviewing them will give us clarity about what it takes to get into Bucknell.

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into Bucknell?

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%

Only 7.47% of Bucknell admits step onto campus with perfect high school GPAs, but another 30% have GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99. Still another 30% have a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74. This means almost 70% of Bucknell students had over a 3.5 GPA in high school. Not necessarily spotless report cards, but not too shabby either. 

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into Bucknell? 

For the Class of 2028, the average SAT score for admits to Bucknell University was 1280, and the average ACT score was 29. Although Bucknell is test-optional, 87% of applicants submitted test scores for the Class of 2028. For more information, please refer to our blog post on the fable of test-optional admissions policies.

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into Bucknell University?

Bucknell lists the following as their minimum academic preparation requirements:

• 4 years of English/language arts
• 3 years of college preparatory mathematics
• 3 years of science
• 3 years of history/social studies
• 2 years of a foreign language (in the same language) in secondary school

Additionally, for applicants to certain degree programs at the Freeman College of Management and the College of Engineering, additional requirements must be met: for students majoring in mathematics, science, engineering, accounting, business analytics or economics (and/or students planning to take calculus at Bucknell), precalculus is required and calculus is strongly recommended.  For students majoring within the College of Engineering, 1 year of either chemistry or physics is required. 

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does Bucknell Like To See?

We’re going to clear up a common misunderstanding: highly selective colleges are not looking for well-rounded students. They’re looking for a well-rounded student body comprised of students who are each singularly talented. 

In terms of extracurriculars, that means Bucknell is looking for depth over breadth. If you’re a member of the debate team, the robotics team, the football team, and the drama department…well, then, you’re merely a member of those groups. You don’t stand out in any of these pursuits. Bucknell would much rather accept the kid who wrote and directed his own play and used the funds from ticket sales to support arts nonprofits than the kid who played the tree in the school play because he was too busy spending the rest of his time losing debate tournaments and fumbling the ball in football practice. 

Bucknell University Application Requirements

Bucknell accepts both the Common App and Coalition App. Additionally, Bucknell asks applicants to send two letters of recommendation and to complete a short 250-word response to the following question: “Please explain your interest in your first-choice major/undecided status and your second-choice major (should you opt to list one) and why you would choose Bucknell University to pursue your interest(s).”

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For Bucknell? 

Bucknell applicants should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, at least one of the recommenders’ subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers. 

Does Bucknell Require An Interview? 

Bucknell does not require an interview and, in fact, they don’t even offer one! 

What Are Bucknell University’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Decision I applications are due on Nov. 1. Regular Decision applications are due Jan. 1. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Bucknell

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into Bucknell, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Bucknell, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.