Published
January 22, 2013
This article discusses important factors to consider when evaluating and choosing a liberal arts college.
Founded in 1846 as a literary institution in the “wilds of Pennsylvania,” Bucknell University has long embraced academic vigor. Today, it is a highly selective private university offering a personalized and comprehensive liberal arts education to exceptionally talented students from across the U.S. and around the world. With academic programs in the arts, engineering, humanities, management, and social and natural sciences, and broad opportunities outside of class, Bucknell prepares students for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected global society.
School Overview: | Bucknell University | |
| County | Union County, PA | |
| Title IV Eligible | Yes | |
| Carnegie Classification | Baccalaureate (Liberal Arts) Colleges I | |
| Institution Level | 4 or more years | |
| Institution Control | Private, non-profit | |
| Instructional Staff Total (research/public service staff included) | 384 staff | 115 staff |
| Student Body | ||
| Total Enrollment | 3,608 students | 1,633 students |
| # Full-Time Students | 3,555 students | 1,434 students |
| # Part-Time Students | 53 students | 137 students |
| # Undergraduate Students | 3,504 students | 1,507 students |
| # Graduate Students | 51 students | 129 students |
| % American Indian/Alaskan | - | 1% |
| % Asian | 4% | 2% |
| % Hawaiian | - | 1% |
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% |
| % Black | 3% | 6% |
| % White | 79% | 84% |
| % Two or more races | 3% | 2% |
| Finances and Admission | ||
| In-State Tuition Fees (2012-13) | $48,234 | $24,462 |
| Out-State Tuition Fees (2012-13) | $48,234 | $24,744 |
| Tuition Notes | Tuition rate for fal | |
| Percent Admitted | 30% | 64% |
| SAT Reading (25-75%) | 580-680 | 450-570 |
| SAT Math (25-75%) | 620-720 | 460-573 |
| SAT Writing (25-75%) | 600-690 | 440-570 |
| ACT English (25-75%) | 28-33 | 19-25 |
| ACT Math (25-75%) | 27-32 | 18-25 |
| ACT Writing (25-75%) | 26-30 | 6-8 |
| ACT Composite (25-75%) | 27-32 | 20-25 |
School Notes:
Vibrant Academic Life
Bucknell’s 3,500 undergraduates choose from more than 50 majors and 60 minors. Students build robots, write and perform in their own plays, or debate solutions to the crisis in Sudan. Engineers make art, artists analyze DNA, and philosophers make music. Each student chooses his or her own pathway, but what unites everyone is a shared passion for learning and a desire to achieve deeper levels of understanding about life and the world.Friendly and Personal Education
Bucknell’s faculty creates an environment of free-flowing ideas and stimulating discussions. Professors (not graduate students) teach every class, getting to know students personally and challenging them to do their best. The professors are also dedicated scholars who frequently receive awards and grants for their work. Often, they engage students in research and creative projects outside of class. They mentor and guide students inside and outside of class.Rich and Varied Campus Life
Outside of class, students participate in myriad activities. Bucknell offers Division I athletics along with intramural and club sports, along with active Greek life programs and more than 150 student-run clubs and organizations. These organizations focus on anything from social and environmental causes to cultural awareness, poetry slams, dance, or politics. Students can enrich their religious and spiritual lives through multiple University and student-led faith organizations.Global Scope
The University is a residential campus, requiring nearly all of its undergraduates to live on campus. Living on campus does not, however, mean students are isolated from the “real” world – quite the opposite is true. Visiting scholars and speakers come to Bucknell nearly every week, and much of the curriculum focuses on cultures, societies, and economies around the globe. Learning happens off campus, too. Students frequently perform service work in places as close as the local nursing home and as far away as Nicaragua or Uganda. They secure summer internships with nonprofit organizations and corporations. They study abroad through one of University’s own “in” programs or 130 other approved programs in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. And after they graduate, they live and work all over the world.Success
Bucknell's graduates succeed in their careers because they possess the skills, knowledge, and flexibility of mind that employers seek. Bucknell offers career services including advising, networking, mock interviews, internship and externship support, and employer fairs to students throughout their four years at Bucknell. The placement rate is consistently high: 97 percent of the Class of 2011 was employed, in graduate school, volunteering or traveling within nine months of graduation.
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