Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid

Your Bucknell education is a transformative investment, and we're here to help.

Bertrand Library at dusk

College is an investment, but it's not one you have to make alone.

In a 2020 analysis of four-year colleges, U.S. News & World Report called Bucknell one of the top 20 "colleges with the best return on investment."

Our Office of Financial Aid staff is here to help every step of the way. More than half of our students receive financial assistance. We'll help you understand all of your options and guide you through the process of applying for grants, loans and work-study opportunities.

Together we can explore all available aid options at Bucknell and help you on your way to becoming part of the Bucknell family.

Get in Touch With Our Team

At the Office of Financial Aid, we welcome your questions throughout your financial aid journey with Bucknell.
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Cost Breakdown for 2023-24

  • Graduation

    Tuition:

    $64,418

  • Home

    Housing:

    $9,956

  • Dining Icon

    Approximate Meal Plan Cost:

    $6,162

  • Bike

    Activity Fee:

    $354

Total comprehensive cost*:

$80,890

Average Total Need-Based Package†:

$51,600

*Represents fees before financial aid and grants. Keep in mind that this comprehensive fee may not represent the true cost to your family. For the 2023-24 academic year, the cost of attendance budget is $84,650, which includes the direct charges listed above plus an allowance of $900 for books/supplies, $2,800 for personal and travel expenses, and $60 for loan fees, if borrowing.

†Represents average total need-based package for a student who demonstrates financial need (Class of 2027 Admitted Student Data as of 08/14/23). The total need-based aid award can include a combination of Bucknell need-based grant funding, federal grants, state grants, federal work-study and a federal subsidized student loan. We evaluate income, untaxed income, assets and other family information from both the custodial and non-custodial parent to determine financial aid eligibility.

Detailed Cost Breakdown

Bucknell lists three costs of attendance. The first applies to students living in on-campus housing with a meal plan, the second applies to students living off campus in a building unaffiliated with the University, and the third applies to students living at home with their families and commuting to campus.

For the 2023-24 academic year, the total cost of attendance is listed below.

Other Fees and Charges
(if applicable)

Please direct questions about these fees and charges to the Bursar's Office at 570-577-3733 or bursar@bucknell.edu.

  • Orientation fee: $300 one time only

The following fees are by specific request only:

  • Audit fee (nonrefundable): $150 per course
  • Credit by examination (nonrefundable): $225 per course
  • Private music lessons (nonrefundable): $539 per semester
  • Single-course rate (subject to tuition refund policy): $7,070 (part-time students only)

Fees are subject to change without notice. Some academic departments may charge fees or require deposits separate from those listed here.

Monthly Payment Plan

Administered by Nelnet Campus Commerce, the Bucknell Monthly Plan divides college costs into consecutive monthly interest-free installments.

  • Plans are per semester only
  • Enrollment opens in May for the Fall semester and in October for the Spring semester
  • To minimize the amount of your monthly payments, be sure to enroll by June 1 for the fall term and by Nov. 1 for the spring term
  • Application fee (subject to change) is $40
  • Both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens may apply for the payment plan

For further information or to apply, contact Nelnet at 800.609.8056 or mycollegepaymentplan.com/bucknell.

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Lam Ngo ’22 stands by a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Lewisburg in the winter

Coming from Vietnam, I wasn't eligible for the same federal resources as U.S. students — which made scholarships and aid all the more important. I was advised that Bucknell is one of the most generous schools financially in the U.S. for international students.

Lam Ngo '22, Civil Engineering and Economics

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Bucknell at a Glance

Undergraduate students

3,700

Students who receive need- or merit-based financial aid from Bucknell

54 %

Students who receive financial aid of some kind

63 %

Average federal student loan debt for graduating seniors in the Class of 2020 who borrowed (compared to about $30,000 nationally)

$ 21,000
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