Bucknell is a private university of about 3,900 undergraduates in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with three colleges under one roof: Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and the Freeman College of Management. It is test-optional through the 2027-28 admission cycle and superscores both the SAT and ACT.
The money side works differently from a lot of schools you may be comparing. There is no automatic merit grid, merit awards are decided at admission, and the biggest ones are tied to which of the three colleges your student applies to. Read the gotchas below before you build your list.
🏆 Full cost covered for Home Depot families (Tools for Tomorrow)
Average Net Price
$39,003/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
None (NM Finalists: $2,000/yr)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
17 opportunities
1 automatic · 10 competitive · 6 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 1 • FAFSA: Jan 10
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Tools for Tomorrow (Home Depot families) and Posse (nominated)
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Bucknell (Read This First)
There is no automatic merit. High grades and scores do not trigger a guaranteed award. The only automatic money is $2,000 a year for National Merit Finalists who pick Bucknell first.
Your student can hold only one academic scholarship. Bucknell says it does not award multiple academic scholarships, so the merit awards do not stack on each other.
Most merit goes to families who also show need. Bucknell says most of its merit money is awarded to students with demonstrated need, with a limited amount for everyone else. File the CSS Profile and FAFSA even if you are not sure you will qualify.
The scholarship deadline is the application deadline. Nov. 1 for Early Decision I, Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision. Several awards also need a separate scholarship application by that same date.
Merit is a one-time decision. Awards are made only at admission, only for incoming first-years, and the amount does not go up in later years.
Divorced or separated parents: the noncustodial parent has to complete their own CSS Profile, due on the same date.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Bucknell University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 25-32; SAT: 1170-1360.
Average net price? About $39,003/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Bucknell University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Bucknell University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,800 to $4,600 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$91,880
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$73,500
Housing & meals (typical)
$18,380
Total billed cost
$91,880
Average federal net price: $39,003 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Same Price for Everyone, Different Price for Every Family
Bucknell is private, so there is no in-state discount and no regional tuition deal. Every family starts from the same sticker price. What changes the number is need-based aid, which is where most of Bucknell’s money goes. Before you rule it out on price, run Bucknell’s
net price calculator. Pennsylvania families should also file the FAFSA before May 1 for the PA State Grant, which can be used at Bucknell.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Bucknell University
What does Bucknell actually charge for a year?
For 2026-27, tuition is $72,600 plus a $900 student fee. Housing runs $11,400 and the meal plan is about $6,980. That puts the direct bill at roughly $91,880. Bucknell’s full cost-of-attendance budget, which adds books, personal and travel costs, is $95,648.
What do families like mine actually pay?
Far less than sticker for many families. Federal data for 2023-24 shows an average net price of about $39,000, and it depends heavily on income. Families earning $30,000 to $48,000 paid about $12,300 on average, $48,000 to $75,000 about $23,700, $75,000 to $110,000 about $28,200, and families above $110,000 about $55,700. Your number could be higher or lower, which is why the net price calculator matters.
Does Bucknell meet full financial need?
Not for everyone. Bucknell’s Common Data Set shows it met about 93% of need on average for first-year students, and most packages include federal loans. The big exception is the Gamgort Family Gateway Scholars program, where 20 first-generation students a year get full need met with no federal loans.
Which aid forms does Bucknell require?
Both the CSS Profile (school code 2050) and the FAFSA (school code 003238). They are due Nov. 1 for Early Decision I and Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision. If parents are divorced or separated, the noncustodial parent completes their own CSS Profile. Tax documents go through IDOC after you file.
Will an outside scholarship reduce our Bucknell aid?
Only if your total gift aid would go above the cost of attendance. When that happens, Bucknell reduces its own aid dollar for dollar. In Bucknell’s own example, a $10,000 outside award wiped out the student’s loans and work-study and trimmed Bucknell aid by $2,500. If your total stays under the cost of attendance, the outside award does not change your Bucknell aid.
Is there any discount for Pennsylvania residents?
No in-state tuition, since Bucknell is private. But Pennsylvania residents can bring the PA State Grant with them (awards ranged from $612 to $5,750 for 2025-26), and Bucknell can nominate eligible students for the PA Ready to Succeed Scholarship. File the FAFSA before May 1.
Does the price go up after freshman year?
Expect it to. Tuition and housing usually rise a little each year, while Bucknell merit awards stay at the same dollar amount for all four years. Plan for that gap when you compare offers.
Nov. 1: Early Decision I. Application, any separate scholarship applications, CSS Profile and FAFSA all due.
Jan. 10: Early Decision II and Regular Decision. Same package due.
With the admission decision: scholarship news usually arrives with the decision (early December for ED I, mid-February for ED II, mid-March for RD).
May 31: National Merit Finalists must name Bucknell as their first choice with NMSC.
Parent rule of thumb: treat your student’s application deadline as the scholarship deadline. There is no second chance at merit after admission.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Bucknell University
Here is the straight answer: Bucknell does not have an automatic merit scholarship based on GPA and test scores. There is no grid where a 3.9 and a 1450 equals a set dollar amount. Every major merit award is decided by a review of the whole application. The one exception is the National Merit award below, which is automatic once your student is a Finalist and names Bucknell as their first choice.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Pennsylvania State Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA and State Grant Form by May 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident with financial need; FAFSA plus the PA State Grant Form by May 1 for four-year schools; no GPA or test score; amount from PHEAA's need formula, 2026-27 maximum $6,000
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pennsylvania's main need grant, up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 for the lowest-income families, less as income rises. Stacks with Pell and with every college award. Part-time enrollment cuts the award. Renew with a FAFSA by May 1 every year.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Bucknell University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Need-based students who got both the FAFSA and the separate State Grant Form in by May 1. The second form is the miss: it is a PHEAA document, not a FAFSA step, and first-time applicants who skip it get nothing even with a perfect FAFSA.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Grow PA Scholarship Grant
📅 Deadline: PHEAA application; 2026-27 window ran to Jan 7, 2027; next window not announced ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident, at least half time in one of 460-plus eligible in-demand programs, no bachelor's degree yet; no income test; separate PHEAA application; signs a promissory note
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for up to four years in an in-demand major, with a string attached: finish the degree and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand field for as many years as you received the grant, or it converts to a loan. Stacks with the State Grant and college aid. First-come by application date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Bucknell University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in nursing, education, engineering, trades, and the other listed fields who are sure they will stay in Pennsylvania after graduation. For anyone who might move, this is a loan with a nice name; the conversion is automatic and comes with interest.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyneed based
Ready to Succeed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application; FAFSA and State Grant Form early ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 3 yrs)
$500–$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAPennsylvania resident; 2.5 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits, so it starts sophomore year; family income under the state cap (PHEAA lists $200,000; some college pages still show $175,000); nominated by participating colleges from the FAFSA and State Grant Form, in order of completion date
✚
Stacking & Combining
A merit-plus-need award that kicks in after freshman year: with the PA State Grant it tops out at $2,500 a year full time, $1,250 part time, minimum $500. For middle-income families above the State Grant range this is often the only state money. Stacks with college aid. First-come by FAFSA date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Bucknell University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Sophomores and up with a 2.5 whose families earn too much for the State Grant but under the cap, and who filed early. It is nominated by the college, not applied for, so the families who never hear about it are the ones who assumed state aid was only for low income.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automaticnational merit
National Merit Scholarship (Bucknell-Sponsored)
📅 Deadline: Designate Bucknell as your first-choice college with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by May 31 of senior year. No separate Bucknell application. · 📢 Results: Following NMSC's spring announcement cycle in senior year of high school ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
This one sits alongside the rest of your package, but it falls under Bucknell's total gift aid policy. All gift aid combined cannot go above the cost of attendance, and Bucknell trims its own aid dollar for dollar if it would.
💡
Strategic Detail
If your student becomes a National Merit Finalist and lists Bucknell as their first-choice college with NMSC by May 31, Bucknell adds a renewable $2,000-a-year scholarship. No essay, no interview, no extra Bucknell form. Bucknell notes that some Finalists get a corporate-sponsored National Merit award instead, which can be larger, and that some awards are one-year only. This is the only truly automatic merit money at Bucknell, so do not expect an automatic award just because your student's grades and scores are high.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who reach Finalist status through the PSAT/NMSQT in junior year and then pick Bucknell as their first-choice school with NMSC. It is a small group nationally.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: If you are coming from a school with a published merit chart, adjust your expectations here. At Bucknell, strong stats get your student into the conversation for the competitive awards in the next section, but nothing is guaranteed.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (Bucknell University)
Does Bucknell give automatic scholarships for high GPA or test scores?
No. Bucknell describes its merit process as holistic and very competitive. There are no published GPA or score cutoffs that guarantee an award.
What scores do admitted students usually have?
For students entering in fall 2025, the middle 50% was 1170 to 1360 on the SAT and 25 to 32 on the ACT, with an average high school GPA of 3.58. Students competing for the top merit awards usually sit well above the middle of that range.
Is Bucknell test-optional, and does it superscore?
Yes to both. Bucknell is test-optional through the 2027-28 admission cycle and superscores the SAT and ACT. Students who took a test and then enroll are asked to send their scores, but only for Bucknell’s internal assessment, not for admission.
How does the National Merit award work at Bucknell?
If your student becomes a National Merit Finalist and lists Bucknell as their first choice with NMSC by May 31, Bucknell provides a renewable $2,000-a-year scholarship. Some Finalists receive a corporate-sponsored award instead, which can be larger.
Can my student earn merit after freshman year?
No. Bucknell awards merit scholarships only at the time of admission and only to incoming first-year students.
This is where Bucknell’s real merit money lives. The three biggest awards, at $40,000 a year, are each tied to one of Bucknell’s three colleges. So the college your student applies to (Arts and Sciences, Engineering, or Freeman College of Management) decides which top award they can be considered for. Older guides may mention the $30,000 Presidential Fellowship. That program ended with the Class of 2028 and these college-based awards replaced it.
🧭 Which Award Fits Your Student?
If your student is…
Look at
Extra application?
Applying to the College of Engineering
Engineering Merit Scholars ($40,000)
No
Applying to Arts and Sciences
Malesardi Scholars ($40,000)
No
Applying to Freeman College of Management
Management Merit Scholars ($40,000)
No
A strong all-around student in any college
Dean’s Scholarship ($20,000)
No
A young woman heading into engineering or the physical sciences
B-WISE ($20,000)
Yes
A future math or statistics major
Mathematics and Statistics Scholars ($20,000)
Yes
A future accounting or business analytics major
PwC Scholarship ($20,000)
Yes
A proven community service leader
Community Engagement Scholars ($20,000)
Yes
An artist, musician, dancer, actor, filmmaker or writer
Arts Merit ($2,500 to $20,000)
Depends on the area
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Bucknell?
Aid Type
Stacks?
Bucknell Parent Translation
Two merit scholarships
No
Bucknell does not award multiple academic scholarships. Apply for every one that fits, but expect one.
Merit plus need-based aid
Yes
Merit is packaged together with need-based aid. This is the normal Bucknell combination, which is why filing the CSS Profile and FAFSA matters.
National Merit ($2,000)
Usually
Falls under Bucknell’s total gift aid policy rather than the one-scholarship rule.
Outside scholarships
Up to the cost of attendance
Once total gift aid would pass the cost of attendance, Bucknell reduces its own aid dollar for dollar.
One thing to keep in mind: Bucknell says most merit money goes to students who also show financial need, with a limited amount for families who do not. If you are a full-pay family, these awards are still possible, just harder to land.
Automatic
Engineering Merit Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). Same as the application deadline. · 📢 Results: With admission decision (ED I, ED II, or RD) ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$40,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell gives only one academic scholarship per student, so this replaces any other merit award rather than adding to it. It can be packaged with need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Bucknell's three top merit awards, built for students entering the College of Engineering. It pays $40,000 a year plus up to $2,000 a year for a scholarly project with a faculty mentor. There is no separate scholarship application: your student is considered just by applying to the College of Engineering by the round deadline. To keep it, your student needs a 3.2 cumulative GPA overall and within engineering, an engineering major and full-time enrollment. Cohort activities are encouraged. This award (with its Arts and Sciences and Management twins) replaced the old Presidential Fellowship starting with the Class of 2029.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: The strongest admits to the College of Engineering: top grades in the hardest math and science courses available, plus real evidence they like to build, design or research things.
Automatic
Malesardi Arts & Sciences Merit Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). Same as the application deadline. · 📢 Results: With admission decision (ED I, ED II, or RD) ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$40,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell gives only one academic scholarship per student, so this replaces any other merit award rather than adding to it. It can be packaged with need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Bucknell's three top merit awards, for students entering the College of Arts and Sciences. The package is $40,000 a year, plus up to $2,400 a year for a mentored scholarly project, plus a one-time $3,000 fund for things like internships or conferences. There is no separate scholarship application. To keep it, your student needs a 3.2 cumulative GPA overall and within Arts and Sciences, attends weekly meetings with the other Malesardi Scholars and spends roughly six to eight hours a week on the scholarly project. That is a real time commitment, so it fits a student who actually wants to do research.
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Who Actually Wins
Most winners: The top Arts and Sciences admits: outstanding grades in a demanding schedule and a clear appetite for independent work, the kind of student who already has a project or question they chase on their own.
Automatic
Management Merit Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). Same as the application deadline. · 📢 Results: With admission decision (ED I, ED II, or RD) ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$40,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell gives only one academic scholarship per student, so this replaces any other merit award rather than adding to it. It can be packaged with need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Bucknell's three top merit awards, for students entering the Freeman College of Management. It pays $40,000 a year, plus up to $5,000 toward one mentored summer internship before senior year. There is no separate scholarship application. To keep it, your student needs a 3.2 cumulative GPA overall and within Freeman, a Freeman major and full-time enrollment. Cohort activities are strongly encouraged.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: The strongest admits to the Freeman College of Management: excellent grades in a rigorous schedule and visible leadership or business interest outside the classroom.
Automatic
Dean's Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). Same as the application deadline. · 📢 Results: With admission decision (ED I, ED II, or RD) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$20,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell gives only one academic scholarship per student, so a Dean's Scholarship replaces, rather than adds to, any other merit award. It is packaged with need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bucknell's broadest merit award: $20,000 a year for students with a very rigorous curriculum, superior grades and real involvement in school and community. No separate scholarship application. Here is the part most families miss: Bucknell says most of this money goes to students who also show financial need, with a limited number awarded regardless of need. If you are hoping for a Dean's Scholarship, file the CSS Profile and FAFSA by the same deadline. To keep it, your student makes satisfactory academic progress and stays in good social standing. The amount does not go up in later years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong admits across all three colleges with top grades in hard classes and steady involvement outside class, often from families who also qualify for need-based aid.
Full TuitionApp Requiredpipelineidentity based
Posse Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Set by the Posse Foundation. Nominations happen through high schools and community organizations, usually starting in the spring of junior year or early senior year, and dates vary by city. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠ Nominated student leaders from the Posse Foundation's Washington, D.C., Boston and Los Angeles sites.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
The tuition scholarship works alongside need-based aid for housing, meals and other costs. Total gift aid cannot go above the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Get nominated by your high school or a community organization in one of the three cities, complete the Posse Foundation's interview rounds, then apply to Bucknell as a Posse finalist.
Selection criteria: Selection is driven by the Posse Foundation’s holistic assessment of leadership, motivation, and academic potential through multiple rounds of interviews and group activities.
🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
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Strategic Detail
Bucknell recruits Posse Scholars from Washington, D.C., Boston and Los Angeles. The Posse Foundation describes its partner awards as four-year full-tuition leadership scholarships. Bucknell's own page simply says "a scholarship for tuition." Students are nominated by their high school or a community group, go through Posse's interview rounds and arrive on campus as a team of peers with a dedicated mentor. Scholars attend an annual weekend Posse Plus Retreat.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Student leaders from the three partner cities whose talent may not show up fully in test scores, chosen through Posse's group and individual interviews.
App Required
Bucknell Women in Science & Engineering (B-WISE) Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). The scholarship application is due with the admission application. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$20,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell gives only one academic scholarship per student, so this replaces, rather than adds to, any other merit award. It can be packaged with need-based aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Common App or the Coalition Application (Scoir) by Nov. 1 for Early Decision I or Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision, then submit Bucknell's merit scholarship application by the same date.
✎ Essays
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Strategic Detail
A $20,000-a-year merit scholarship for high-achieving women who plan to major in engineering, biophysics, chemistry, environmental geosciences, geology or physics. It needs a separate merit scholarship application, due with the admission application. Financial need is not required. To keep it, your student stays in one of those majors, makes satisfactory academic progress and stays in good social standing. The amount does not increase in later years. This one is easy to miss because it does not appear on Bucknell's main scholarship list, only on its own page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Young women with strong math and science records who are committed to one of the listed majors and take the time to complete the separate scholarship application.
App Required
Mathematics and Statistics Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). The scholarship application is due with the admission application. · 📢 Results: With admission decision ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$20,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell gives only one academic scholarship per student, so this replaces, rather than adds to, any other merit award. It can be packaged with need-based aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Common App or the Coalition Application (Scoir) by Nov. 1 for Early Decision I or Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision, then submit Bucknell's merit scholarship application by the same date.
Selection criteria: Selection considers strength of mathematical preparation, math/stats interest and engagement, and overall academic record.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $20,000-a-year award for students who will major in mathematics, applied mathematics or statistics. It needs a separate merit scholarship application. The major has to be declared by the second semester of sophomore year. Renewal is tougher than most Bucknell awards: a 3.5 overall GPA, at least one math class every semester, good social standing and whatever responsibilities your student agrees to with the program coordinator. Bucknell says only a limited number are given.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who clearly love math: top grades in the highest math courses available, and often competitions, research or independent work that shows it.
App Required
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). The scholarship application is due with the admission application. · 📢 Results: With admission decision ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$20,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell gives only one academic scholarship per student, so this replaces, rather than adds to, any other merit award. It can be packaged with need-based aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to the Freeman College of Management through the Common App or the Coalition Application (Scoir) by Nov. 1 for Early Decision I or Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision, then submit Bucknell's merit scholarship application by the same date.
Selection criteria: Selection prioritizes strong quantitative preparation, evidence of interest in accounting or analytics, and overall academic profile.
💡
Strategic Detail
Funded by PricewaterhouseCoopers, this pays $20,000 a year to standout students majoring in accounting or business analytics. It needs a separate merit scholarship application. The renewal bar rises over time: a 3.0 Bucknell GPA through sophomore year, then a 3.5 cumulative GPA after the fourth semester and every semester after that. Full-time enrollment is required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students set on accounting or business analytics with strong math grades and some sign they enjoy working with numbers and data, such as a business class, a job, or a club role handling money.
App Required
Bucknell Community Engagement Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). The scholarship application is due with the admission application. · 📢 Results: With admission decision ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$20,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell gives only one academic scholarship per student, so this replaces, rather than adds to, any other merit award. It can be packaged with need-based aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Common App or the Coalition Application (Scoir) by Nov. 1 for Early Decision I or Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision, then submit Bucknell's merit scholarship application by the same date.
Selection criteria: Selection weighs depth, leadership, and impact of demonstrated community engagement alongside overall academic profile and admissibility to Bucknell.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $20,000-a-year award for students who have been real public-service leaders in their home communities. It needs a separate merit scholarship application. Scholars spend an average of four to six hours a week on community engagement each semester through Bucknell's Center for Community Engaged Leadership, Learning and Research (CCELLR). Bucknell says only a limited number are given.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose service record shows leadership and impact over time, such as starting or running something, not just logging hours, and who want to keep doing that work in college.
App Required
Arts Merit Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). Portfolio materials are due with the admission application. · 📢 Results: Following Arts Merit Weekend evaluations and with admission decision ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,500–$20,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell says it does not award multiple academic scholarships, so ask the admissions office how an Arts Merit award combines with any other merit offer before you count on both. It can be packaged with need-based aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Common App or the Coalition Application (Scoir) by Nov. 1 for Early Decision I or Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision. Upload arts materials in the Arts Merit Portfolio section of the admissions portal if your area requires it, then watch for faculty to reach out about an interview or audition.
Selection criteria: Selection weighs the strength of the arts portfolio or audition alongside overall academic profile and admissibility to Bucknell; Arts Merit Weekend interviews and auditions carry significant weight in final decisions.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Awards run from $2,500 to $20,000 a year for students who plan to pursue art and design, art history, creative writing, dance, film and media studies, literary studies, music (majors and non-majors) or theatre (performance or design and technology). How you apply depends on the area. Art and design, dance, film and media, and theatre applicants upload work through the Arts Merit Portfolio section of Bucknell's admissions portal. Art history, creative writing and literary studies applicants are considered automatically when they list that intended major. Music applicants should confirm the process with the music department. Faculty contact finalists to set up interviews or auditions, some on campus, some virtual. Renewal rules vary by area; several require a 3.0 GPA in that area's classes.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with real talent and a strong portfolio or audition in their area who are also solid admits academically. Non-majors in music can qualify.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When are Bucknell’s merit scholarships due?
On the same day as the admission application: Nov. 1 for Early Decision I, Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision. Separate scholarship applications are due on that same date. Recipients generally hear with their admission decision.
Which scholarships need a separate application?
B-WISE, Mathematics and Statistics Scholars, the PwC Scholarship and Community Engagement Scholars all need Bucknell’s merit scholarship application. Arts Merit needs a portfolio for art and design, dance, film and media, and theatre. The three $40,000 awards and the Dean’s Scholarship need nothing extra.
Can my student win more than one?
No. Bucknell does not award multiple academic scholarships to one student. If your student fits several, apply for each, but expect a single award.
What GPA does my student need to keep the award?
It depends on the award. The three $40,000 awards need a 3.2 overall and within the college. Math and Statistics needs a 3.5. PwC needs a 3.0 through sophomore year, then a 3.5. Dean’s and B-WISE require satisfactory academic progress and good social standing.
Is the Presidential Fellowship still available?
No. It ended with the Class of 2028. The Engineering, Malesardi and Management Merit Scholars programs replaced it.
Can a family that does not qualify for need-based aid still get merit?
Yes, but less often. Bucknell sets aside a limited amount of merit for students without need or who do not apply for aid.
What should my student focus on in the application?
Bucknell looks for a very rigorous schedule, superior grades and real involvement. For the scholarship essays, our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize achievements into a clear story.
Several of Bucknell’s best programs have no application at all. Bucknell’s Center for Access and Success runs five signature programs, and three of them (Gateway, Langone and Bauer) pick students straight from the aid files. If the forms are not in, your student cannot be picked.
File the CSS Profile and FAFSA by your round deadline (Nov. 1 or Jan. 10), even if you think you earn too much.
Answer the first-generation question on the application honestly.
Check whether anyone in the family works at Home Depot or at a college. Both open doors below.
Pennsylvania families: file the FAFSA before May 1 for the PA State Grant.
Parent translation: at Bucknell, the aid forms are the scholarship application for most of these programs.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These programs are narrower than the merit awards, but for the right family they are worth more. Some come from the aid forms alone, some depend on where you live or who you work for, and one is a transfer path from community college.
Automatic
Gamgort Family Gateway Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision) for the admission application, CSS Profile and FAFSA. · 📢 Results: With admission decision (ED I, ED II, or RD) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~20 first-year students per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
This works through your need-based aid package. Bucknell meets the full demonstrated need without federal loans. Total gift aid still cannot go above the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
If your student will be the first in your family to earn a four-year degree and your family has high financial need, this is the program to know. Twenty first-year students a year have their full demonstrated need met with no federal loans in the package, which is not how Bucknell packages most students. Scholars also get ongoing mentoring, including GenFirst!@Bucknell, which pairs them with faculty and staff who were first-gen themselves. No separate application, but the CSS Profile and FAFSA have to be in by your round deadline. To keep it, your student makes satisfactory academic progress.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving first-generation students with high financial need who show grit and resilience. Only 20 are chosen each year.
Automatic
Langone and Langone-Walling Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision) for the admission application, CSS Profile and FAFSA. · 📢 Results: With admission and financial aid packaging ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~11 recipients per year across both awards winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is delivered as part of your need-based aid package rather than as extra money on top of it. Total gift aid cannot go above the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Two related scholarships named for Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone, a 1957 Bucknell graduate. Together they go to 11 incoming students a year with outstanding academics and demonstrated financial need. Bucknell looks for integrity, loyalty and steady determination, and the criteria include service to school, family or community, or overcoming difficult circumstances. Bucknell does not publish a dollar amount. No separate application. To keep it, your student makes satisfactory academic progress, and the amount does not increase in later years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with real financial need, strong grades and a story of service or of pushing through hard circumstances. Only 11 a year.
Automatic
Charles T. Bauer Scholars Program (Baltimore)
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision) for the admission application, CSS Profile and FAFSA. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$20,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ For students who attend high school in Baltimore City or Baltimore County, Md., and qualify for need-based aid.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
The $20,000 scholarship is built into a package that meets full demonstrated need, so it works with your need-based aid rather than on top of it. Total gift aid cannot go above the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
If your student attends high school in Baltimore City or Baltimore County, Maryland, and qualifies for need-based aid, Bucknell automatically considers them for this. Scholars get a $20,000 scholarship plus a financial aid package that meets their full demonstrated need. Families are invited to a fall information session, and your school counselor can submit an optional nomination form. To keep it, your student takes part in Bucknell's T.E.A.M. peer mentoring program, makes satisfactory academic progress and stays in good social standing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving Baltimore-area students with financial need, especially those whose counselors flag them with a nomination.
Full RideApp Requiredpipeline
Tools for Tomorrow Founder's Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I); Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). The scholarship application is due with the admission application. · 📢 Results: Recipients are notified with their Bucknell admission decision ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full-ride (tuition, fees, room, and board)
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Children or grandchildren (including step) of Home Depot associates with at least two years of service, director level or below. Up to four incoming students per year.
👥 ~Up to four incoming students per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Because this covers the full direct cost, it takes the place of other Bucknell gift aid. Outside scholarships fall under Bucknell's total gift aid policy.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Common App or the Coalition Application (Scoir) by Nov. 1 for Early Decision I or Jan. 10 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision, then complete the Tools for Tomorrow scholarship application with the employment verification.
Selection criteria: Selection is limited to academically qualified applicants who meet the Home Depot employment pipeline requirement; competition is highly concentrated among a small pool given only up to four full-ride awards are made each year.
💡
Strategic Detail
If someone in your family works at Home Depot, stop and read this. Endowed by Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone and his wife Elaine, this covers tuition, fees, room and board for up to four incoming students a year. Your student must be the child or grandchild (step-relations count) of an associate with at least two years at Home Depot, director level or below. You submit the regular admission application plus a separate scholarship application that includes a one-time verification of the associate's employment. Recipients hear with their admission decision, and the award renews each year in good academic standing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong Bucknell admits from Home Depot families. Only four a year, so a solid application matters.
App Required
Tuition Exchange Program
📅 Deadline: Submit through your parent's college Tuition Exchange office by your Bucknell application deadline: Nov. 1 (Early Decision I) or Jan. 10 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$45,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ For dependents of employees at colleges that belong to the national Tuition Exchange program. First-year students only.
👥 ~Limited; 27 offered for the Class of 2030 winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bucknell does not spell out how this combines with other aid. Total gift aid cannot go above the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Contact the Tuition Exchange liaison at the parent's college early, submit through that office by Nov. 1 or Jan. 10, and apply to Bucknell by the same date.
💡
Strategic Detail
If a parent works at a college that belongs to the national Tuition Exchange program, your student can apply for Bucknell's Tuition Exchange award, a set $45,000 for 2027-28. It is very competitive. For the Class of 2030, 159 students applied, 71 were admitted, 27 got offers and 8 enrolled. You apply through the Tuition Exchange office at the parent's employer, not through Bucknell, by the same deadline as the Bucknell application. Only first-year students are eligible, not transfers. Awards renew each year but Bucknell says they are not guaranteed. Bucknell's page does not explain how this combines with need-based aid, so ask the aid office directly.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of college employees whose home school participates in Tuition Exchange and who are strong Bucknell admits. Odds are long: 27 offers out of 159 applicants for the Class of 2030.
App Required⚠ Transfer Onlypipelineneed based
Community College Scholars Program (Transfer)
📅 Deadline: Bucknell does not post a single date. Students must have at least 12 community college credits as of Jan. 15 of their first year; check with the program office for the current timeline. ✓ Renews (2 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ For students at five partner Pennsylvania community colleges who meet income limits and complete a six-week summer program.
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
The tuition scholarship is paired with need-based aid for housing, meals and books. Total gift aid cannot go above the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
While in your first year at a partner community college, apply to the Bucknell Community College Scholars Program, complete the six-week summer program, finish your associate degree and apply to Bucknell as a transfer.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes strong community college academic records, leadership, and financial need for students seeking to transfer and complete a bachelor’s degree at Bucknell.
🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
A transfer path for high-achieving, lower- and middle-income students at five partner community colleges: Community College of Philadelphia, Harrisburg Area, Lehigh Carbon, Montgomery County and Reading Area. Students apply during their first year (roughly a 3.5 GPA or higher, at least 12 credits by Jan. 15, fewer than 45 credits earned), attend a six-week residential summer program at Bucknell, finish the associate degree, then transfer. The award is a tuition scholarship for two years (four semesters), plus need-based help with housing, the basic meal plan, books and more. Income limits: adjusted gross income under $95,000 for families, $60,000 for married couples or $45,000 for independent students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Strong first-year students at the five partner community colleges who fit the income limits and finish the summer program.
Full TuitionApp Required
Army ROTC Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Set by Army ROTC. Apply for the national four-year scholarship through goarmy.com, typically in the fall of senior year; campus-based two- and three-year scholarships follow Army timelines. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition and stipend
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
ROTC scholarships work alongside Bucknell aid, and Bucknell may add room and board. Total gift aid cannot go above the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for an Army ROTC scholarship through goarmy.com, apply to Bucknell, and contact the Bison Battalion (570-577-1013) about campus-based options.
Selection criteria: Selection is based on a combination of academic performance, leadership potential, physical fitness, and medical qualification evaluated by the Army ROTC program.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Bucknell hosts the Army ROTC Bison Battalion, with Bloomsburg and Susquehanna as partner schools. Army ROTC offers two-, three- and four-year scholarships in exchange for serving as an officer in the Army, Army Reserve or National Guard. Bucknell says ROTC tuition scholarship recipients may also receive room and board and stipends for books and other expenses. Students must be full-time, U.S. citizens, physically fit, medically qualified and under 30 at graduation (waivers are possible). Only Army ROTC is offered at Bucknell.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who genuinely want to serve as Army officers and meet the academic, fitness and medical standards.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Athletes: Bucknell plays Division I in the Patriot League and does offer athletic scholarships, though not every sport carries the full NCAA amount. Those offers come through coaches during recruiting, not through an application.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is the Gamgort Family Gateway Scholars program?
It is for first-generation students with high financial need. Twenty students a year have their full need met with no federal loans, plus mentoring. There is no separate application; Bucknell selects from students who file the CSS Profile and FAFSA on time.
How does the Bauer Scholars Program work?
Students who attend high school in Baltimore City or Baltimore County, Maryland, and qualify for need-based aid are considered automatically. Scholars get $20,000 plus a package that meets full demonstrated need. A counselor nomination is optional.
What is the Home Depot scholarship at Bucknell?
The Tools for Tomorrow Scholarship covers tuition, fees, room and board for up to four incoming students a year who are children or grandchildren of a Home Depot associate with at least two years of service. It needs its own application with employment verification.
Which cities send Posse Scholars to Bucknell?
Washington, D.C., Boston and Los Angeles. Students are nominated by their high school or a community organization and go through the Posse Foundation’s interviews.
My spouse works at a college. Does that help?
It might. If that college belongs to the national Tuition Exchange program, your student can apply for Bucknell’s Tuition Exchange award ($45,000 for 2027-28). It is competitive: 27 offers went out to 159 applicants for the Class of 2030.
Can a community college student transfer in with a scholarship?
Yes, from five partner Pennsylvania community colleges. The Community College Scholars Program includes a six-week summer program at Bucknell and a two-year tuition scholarship, plus need-based help with housing, meals and books.
Bucknell does not have an Honors College, and there is no honors program your student applies to as a high school senior. That is common at small private schools, where the whole place runs on small classes. Bucknell averages about 20 students per class with a 9 to 1 student-faculty ratio.
What Bucknell does have is a senior-year Honors Program. Students are nominated based on their work at Bucknell, usually need a 3.5 GPA overall or in the major, and spend their final year writing an honors thesis with a faculty adviser. Students who finish graduate with honors on their transcript.
When it starts: the year before your student graduates
How you get in: nomination plus support from two faculty members in the major
Separate scholarship: none attached
Honors Scholarships & Fellowships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
The honors-style experience starts on day one with merit: The three $40,000 merit programs work a lot like an honors track. Malesardi Scholars meet weekly as a cohort and spend six to eight hours a week on a funded research project. Engineering Merit Scholars get up to $2,000 a year for a faculty-mentored project. Management Merit Scholars get up to $5,000 for a summer internship. If your student wants that kind of experience, those awards are the door.
Honors: FAQs (Bucknell University)
Does Bucknell have an Honors College?
No. There is no Honors College and no honors program for incoming students. The Honors Program is a senior-year thesis track.
Are there honors scholarships?
No separate ones. The closest thing is the cohort experience built into the Engineering, Malesardi and Management Merit Scholars programs.
What GPA earns Latin honors at graduation?
A 3.50 to 3.69 earns cum laude, 3.70 to 3.89 magna cum laude, and 3.90 or higher summa cum laude, with at least 24 Bucknell course credits.
Can any major do an honors thesis?
Yes. Every academic department and interdisciplinary major offers departmental honors, coordinated through the University Honors Council.
Bucknell is an unusual mix: it feels like a small liberal arts college, but it has a full College of Engineering and a business school sitting right next to the arts and sciences. That means your student can take small, discussion-heavy classes and still major in something like mechanical engineering or accounting, without the jump to a big research university.
Nationally Known Program: College of Engineering: Bucknell regularly lands in the U.S. News top 10 for undergraduate engineering at schools that do not offer a doctorate, and in the latest rankings mechanical, civil, computer and electrical engineering all placed in the top four. Because there are no Ph.D. students, undergraduates get the labs, the projects and the professors’ time.
Freeman College of Management: AACSB-accredited since 2013, with majors including accounting and business analytics. PwC funds a dedicated scholarship here.
Economics and the sciences: Strong draws for students who want to do real research, since faculty-mentored projects are open to undergraduates rather than reserved for grad students.
Animal Behavior: A rare undergraduate major that combines biology and psychology, with on-campus research involving monkeys, amphibians, bats and bees.
Outcomes: 93% of the Class of 2024 reported a successful outcome, such as a job or grad school, within nine months, and LinkedIn ranked Bucknell first among liberal arts colleges for career success in 2026.
🔗 Official Bucknell University Links
Use Bucknell’s official pages below to confirm deadlines, scholarship rules, costs and aid policies. Always rely on these pages for final details before your student applies.
Big picture? Bucknell is not a school where strong stats unlock a guaranteed discount. It is a school where the aid forms, the college your student applies to, and the deadline they hit decide almost everything. The real money comes from need-based aid plus one well-chosen merit award, and the three $40,000 college awards reward students who already know what they want to build, research or run.
If your family has need, a first-generation story, Baltimore roots, a Home Depot paycheck or a parent working at a college, Bucknell has a program built for you, and most of them start with the CSS Profile. If you are a full-pay family, go in clear-eyed: merit is possible but limited. Either way, run the net price calculator early, file everything by Nov. 1 or Jan. 10, and let the offer letter tell you whether Bucknell’s small-school engineering and business combination is worth it for your student.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site to give middle-income and first-generation families plain-English answers about what college really costs. No paywall, no lead generation. More about Leo →
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