Is Bucknell test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1270 and hold it if it's under.

What is Bucknell's acceptance rate?

29% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 3,291 of 11,377 applicants were admitted. Applications held near 11,377, and Bucknell's admit rate went from 25% to 29%.

What ACT score do you need for Bucknell?

First-year students who sent an ACT scored 25–32, with a median of 29. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1170–1360 works out to about 24–30.

Does applying early decision help at Bucknell?

55% of early decision applicants were admitted (656 of 1,200), against 29% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Bucknell?

150 of the 1,384 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 11%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Bucknell? (Middle 50%: 1170–1360)

First-year students at Bucknell who sent an SAT scored 1170–1360, with a median of 1270 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Bucknell admits 29% of applicants and is test optional.

Bucknell University · Lewisburg, PA

Where your score lands at Bucknell

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1170–1360, median 1270

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Bucknell is for you and whether to send your score.

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Bucknell by the numbers

Admit rate: 29%
Middle 50% SAT: 1170–1360
Median SAT: 1270
About on the ACT: 24–30

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Bucknell admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Bucknell admit rate over 10 years

Applications held near 11,377, and Bucknell's admit rate went from 25% to 29%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	11,377	3,291	29%
2023	11,010	3,524	32%
2022	11,707	3,811	33%
2021	11,263	3,886	35%
2020	9,890	3,712	38%
2019	9,845	3,370	34%
2018	10,144	3,352	33%
2017	10,253	3,187	31%
2016	10,487	3,138	30%
2015	10,967	2,718	25%

In fall 2024, 991 of the 3,291 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Bucknell

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1120Far reachHold
1120–1160ReachHold
1170–1260TargetHold
1270 and upTargetSend

100011001200130014001500

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Bucknell SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	570	630	680
SAT Reading and Writing	590	640	690
SAT total	1170	1270	1360
ACT composite	25	29	32

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Top 10% of their class: 56%; of new students who reported a rank

Bucknell early decision and waitlist

Early decision

656 of 1,200 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision55%
All applicants29%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

2,908 applicants were offered a spot, 1,384 took it, and 150 were admitted from it.

11%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Bucknell cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $40,766; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 86%
Median earnings: $93,807; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 4,036

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Bucknell

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Bucknell Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Bucknell admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Bucknell website
Bucknell University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1170–1360, and the median was 1270. At 1270 or higher you're above half of them. Bucknell admits 29% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$