Bucknell University

Bucknell University Is a Top Liberal Arts College

Bucknell University is a private, liberal arts university located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, offering academic degrees in more than 50 majors and 60 minors.

Founded in 1846 as a "literary institution," Bucknell has evolved from its beginnings holding classes in the basement of the First Baptist Church of Lewisburg into a university with a beautiful 400-acre campus offering programs in humanities, sciences and mathematics, engineering, management, social sciences, and the performing and fine arts.

Today, the university consists of two main colleges -- the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. The School of Management is part of the College of Arts and Sciences. All academic programs, including engineering, are based on the liberal arts.

Recognized as a top liberal arts university, Bucknell University prides itself on the sense of community it creates for its students.

With small classes, a dedicated and accessible faculty, and more than 150 student-run clubs and organizations, the university provides an academic and social environment where students engage in a wide range of educational opportunities and enjoy a rich and rewarding undergraduate experience.

Bucknell University's College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences is composed of three academic divisions: humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences and mathematics. Students can earn a Bachelor of Music, a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, or a Bachelor of Arts degree.

The college's curriculum, the College Core Curriculum, prepares students for a lifetime of critical thinking and civic engagement; cultivates intellectual exploration and in-depth study in an academic discipline; engages students in diverse perspectives so that they can successfully navigate the globalized, multi-cultural world; encourages scientific and technological innovation; helps students analyze, evaluate, and integrate information; and teaches them to synthesize and communicate effectively.

Bucknell University's College of Engineering

Engineering education at Bucknell emphasizes an understanding of the fundamental principles of engineering, mathematics, and the natural and social sciences, and the ability to develop creative solutions to complex, open-ended, and multi-faceted problems with careful consideration of the impact of the solutions on the environment and society.

The very strong analytical and problem-solving skills developed by our engineering students serve them well upon graduation in careers both in engineering and in a wide range of other occupations such as finance, law, medicine, and a variety of entrepreneurial endeavors.

Bucknell's engineering students complete their undergraduate study in four years, but they also have the option of completing one of two five-year engineering programs that offers joint degrees in liberal arts and engineering: a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Management.

Bucknell's Faculty Members Are Mentors and Expert Scholars

The student-faculty ratio at Bucknell is 10:1, and professors, not graduate students, teach every class. Faculty members are dedicated to their students, providing one-to-one attention in class and mentoring students outside of class by involving them in research, creative projects, panel discussions, conferences, field trips, and more.

The faculty consists of more than 350 full-time, tenure-line members, with 97 percent having a Ph.D. or another terminal degree. Faculty members are also involved in campus life, serving as advisers to various clubs and organizations, helping Bucknell students connect to their studies on an academic and personal level.

Bucknell Promotes International Perspectives and Global Education

Bucknell encourages students to seek global awareness. Nearly half of its students study off campus at some point in their time at Bucknell. The university offers its own university-run programs in France, Spain and London, along with three-week summer courses in Northern Ireland, Barbados, South Africa, Nicaragua, Greece and Turkey, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and a program designed for engineers.

The Bucknell Office of International Education also encourages students to go abroad through external study abroad programs and community service opportunities.

First-year Housing Includes Seven Themed Choices

All first-year students are required to live on campus. In addition to a traditional residence hall experience, first-year students may choose to participate in one of Bucknell's seven Residential Colleges. These are themed communities that combine classroom and social activities built around a particular subject of interest.

The Residential Colleges include the Arts College, Environmental College, Global College, Humanities College, Languages and Cultures College, Social Justice College, and Society and Technology College. Other first-year housing choices focus on a quiet atmosphere and healthy, substance-free living.

Athletics Offerings are Competitive and Broad

A member of the Patriot League, Bucknell features 27 Division I athletic teams, along with numerous intramural sports teams, student-run sports clubs, and group fitness classes including yoga, Zumba, and spinning. Bucknell also owns an 18-hole golf course and a state-of-the-art fitness center including an Olympic-size swimming pool, basketball courts, tennis courts, and racquetball courts available to students, faculty, and community members.

Bucknell's athletes are also scholars. Ninety-three percent of student-athletes graduate within six years; the university is fifth among Division I schools for the number of student-athletes named to Academic All-America teams; and the student-athlete graduation is fourth highest in the nation among all Division I programs.

Bucknell's Campus Activities Are Varied and Numerous

Bucknell offers a wide array of opportunities for students looking for things to do on campus when classes and studying are complete. There are more than 150 different clubs and organizations, a vibrant calendar of performing arts and artistic programming, and a strong Greek life on campus. Students can also find a multitude of religious, cultural, environmental, and political groups to join and participate in.

Bucknell Prepares Students for Successful Careers

Bucknell's Career Development Center assists students from their first-year through their alumni years. The center offers career counseling services, alumni mentoring opportunities, on- and off-campus employer fairs, resume and cover letter writing advice, mock interviewing, and an extensive alumni network for students to take advantage of throughout their course of study.

Students are encouraged to gain hands-on experience through a wide range of internship opportunities provided in the Unites States and internationally. The Bucknell Public Interest Program (BPIP) provides a stipend to students who secure full-time summer internships in the nonprofit or public sector.

Bucknell's four-year graduation rate is a high 85.9 percent. Ninety-seven percent of the Class of 2011 was placed (employed, in graduate school, volunteering, or traveling) within nine months of graduation.

Bucknell's Honors Program

Bucknell's academic divisions offer honors programs for students with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The program is designed to encourage intellectual independence and to recognize academic excellence. Students submit an honors proposal, which must be approved by the Honors Council. Approved proposals allow for students to complete an honors thesis or project under the guidance of a faculty adviser.

Upon completion of the program, students graduate with honors, a distinction recorded on their transcripts and during graduation.

Financial Aid Is Available

About 50 percent of students qualify for need-based aid from the school, and about 60 percent of students receive financial aid in some form, including loans.

Applying for aid is a separate process than applying for admission, but the deadlines are the same. Bucknell requires the CSS PROFILE from financial aid applicants.

• Area and ethnic studies
• Asian Studies (East)
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Latin American Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Women's Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biological/life sciences
• Biology/Biological Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biochemistry
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Cell and Molecular Biology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Animal Behavior and Ethology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Neuroscience
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Business/marketing
• Business Administration and Management
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Computer and information sciences
• Computer and Information Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Education
• Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Educational Statistics and Research Methods
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Elementary Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Secondary Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Kindergarten/Preschool Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Early Childhood Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Engineering
• Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Chemical Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Civil Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Computer Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mechanical Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• English
• English
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Creative Writing
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Foreign languages and literature
• Russian
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• German
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• French
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Spanish
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Classics and Classical Languages
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• History
• History
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Interdisciplinary studies
• Interdisciplinary Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biopsychology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Related
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Liberal arts/general studies
• Humanities
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mathematics and statistics
• Mathematics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Natural resources/environmental science
• Environmental Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Philosophy
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Religious Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Physical sciences
• Chemistry
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Geology/Earth Science
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Physics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Psychology
• Psychology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Social sciences
• Anthropology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Economics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Geography
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• International Relations and Affairs
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Political Science and Government
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Sociology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Visual and performing arts
• Visual and Performing Arts
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Dramatic/Theater Arts
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Art
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Fine/Studio Arts
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Art History, Criticism and Conservation
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music History, Literature, and Theory
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music Performance
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music Theory and Composition
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied7,940
• Accepted2,188
• Acceptance Rate27%
• Enrolled3,554
• Female Applicants3,834
• Females Accepted1,154
• Female Acceptance Rate30%
• Male Applicants4,106
• Males Accepted1,034
• Male Acceptance Rate25%
• Applying
• Application Fee$60
• Required for All Essay or personal statement
  Transcript of high school record
  Letter(s) of recommendation
  
• Required for Some
• Average high school GPA for first-year freshman3.52
• Application Deadlines
• Type Application Closing Notification Date Rolling Admissions
• Fall freshmen January 15th April 1st --
• Out-of-state Fall freshmen Not Reported
• Early decision plan November 15th December 15th --
• Other early decision plan January 15th February 15th --
• Transfer March 15th May 1st --
• Test Scores Accepted
• Test Average School Accepted 25th Percentile* 75th Percentile*
• SAT Critical Reading 635 590 680
• SAT Math 672 630 720
• SAT Writing 648 600 700
• ACT Composite 29 27 31
• * 25th and 75th percentile is the score that 25/75 percent of students score at or below.

• Tuition
• In-state tuition *$45,132
• Out-of-state tuition *$45,132
• In-district tuitionN/A
• * Tuition costs are based on a full academic year typically extending from September to June.
• Fees
• Full-time student fees$246.00
• Room and board *$10,812.00
• Room only *$6,330.00
• * Room and board charges vary according to board plan selected (i.e., 12-meal plan, 19-meal plan, etc.) and student level (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
• Other Payment Considerations
• Guaranteed tuition plan offeredNo
• Tuition pre-payment planYes
• Tuition payment plans offeredInstallments
• Student groups that qualify for full or partial waiver of tuitionEmployees or children of employees

• Gender
• Total Undergraduate Students3,554
• Male Student Percentage48%
• Female Student Percentage52%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic/Latino4.25%
• Black or African American2.87%
• White or Caucasian78.95%
• American Indian or Alaska Native.06%
• Asian3.24%
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.03%
• Two or more races2.14%
• Unknown3.04%
• Other Student Statistics
• International Breakout4.92% representing 63 other countries
• Out-of-state Students76% out-of-state student

• Housing
• College-owned housing available Yes
• Housing Requirements None
• Housing options Coed housing , Special housing for disabled, Male-only housing, Cooperative housing
• Percentage of undergraduate students who live in college-owned housing 86%
• Student Activities
• Student-run campus newspaper Yes
• Drama / theater group Yes
• Student-run radio station Yes
• Student-run television station No
• Marching band No
• Choral groups Yes
• Student Services
• Legal services No
• Health clinic Yes
• Personal / psychological counseling Yes
• Women's center Yes
• Student Organizations
• Greek fraternities Yes
• Greek sororities Yes
• Local fraternities No
• Local sororities No
• Other organizations No
• Most popular organizations Alpha Phi Omega, Outing Club, Activities and Campus Events, Catholic Campus Ministries, CALVIN and HOBBES
• Campus Security and Safety
• 24-hour emergency telephone / alarm services Yes
• 24-hour patrols by trained officers Yes
• Students patrols Yes
• Late-night transport / escort services Yes
• Electronically-operated dormitory entrances Yes
• Other well-lit pathways, self-defense education, safety/security orientation

• Men's Sports
• Sport Intramural Intercollegiate Scholarship
• Badmington Yes No No
• Baseball No Division 1 No
• Basketball Yes Division 1 Yes
• Bowling Yes No No
• Cheerleading No Division C No
• Crew No Division C No
• Cross-country running Yes Division 1 No
• Equestrian sports No Division C No
• Field hockey No No No
• Football No Division B No
• Golf Yes Division 1 No
• Ice hockey No Division C No
• Lacrosse No Division 1 Yes
• Racquetball Yes No No
• Rock climbing No Division C No
• Rugy No Division C No
• Sailing No Division C No
• Skiing No Division C No
• Soccer Yes Division 1 Yes
• Softball Yes No No
• Squash Yes Division C No
• Swimming No Division 1 Yes
• Tennis Yes Division 1 No
• Tennis Yes No No
• Track No Division 1 No
• Ultimate Frisbee Yes Division C No
• Volleyball Yes Division C No
• Water polo No Division 1 No
• Weight Lifting Yes Division C No
• Wrestling Yes Division 1 Yes
• Women's Sports
• Sport Intramural Intercollegiate Scholarship
• Badmington Yes No No
• Baseball No No No
• Basketball Yes Division 1 Yes
• Bowling Yes No No
• Cheerleading No Division C No
• Crew No Division 1 No
• Cross-country running Yes Division 1 Yes
• Equestrian sports No Division C No
• Field hockey No Division 1 No
• Football No No No
• Golf Yes Division 1 No
• Ice hockey No No No
• Lacrosse No Division 1 Yes
• Racquetball Yes No No
• Rock climbing No Division C No
• Rugy No Division C No
• Sailing No Division C No
• Skiing No Division C No
• Soccer Yes Division 1 Yes
• Softball Yes Division 1 No
• Squash Yes Division C No
• Swimming No Division 1 Yes
• Tennis Yes Division 1 No
• Tennis Yes No No
• Track No Division 1 No
• Ultimate Frisbee Yes Division C No
• Volleyball Yes Division 1 No
• Water polo No Division 1 No
• Weight Lifting No Division C No
• Wrestling No No No

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty379
• Full-time Percentage94%
• Part-time Percentage6%
• Female Percentage41%
• Male Percentage59%
• Student:Faculty Ratio10:1 or 3,601 students to 365 faculty