Students during Design Thinking Leadership pre-orientation

Admissions & Aid

Amazing things happen when brilliant minds unite.

At Bucknell, we empower students to make the most of their ideas through hands-on education and intentional collaboration.

We're looking for students with the curiosity to pose creative questions, the boldness to venture into the unknown to discover the answers and the drive to make a world-changing impact — together.

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2025-26 Dates & Deadlines


Early Decision I
Date	Deadline	Additional Details
Nov. 1, 2025*	Early Decision I Deadline	Application, scholarship application, CSS Profile and FAFSA due
Early December	Early Decision I Decision Release	Look for an email with details about our release date and time, as well as instructions for accessing your decision
Mid-December	Early Decision I Enrollment Deposit Due	Log in to your Application Status Page to confirm your enrollment

Early Decision II
Date	Deadline	Additional Details
Jan. 10, 2026*	Early Decision II Deadline	Application, scholarship application, CSS Profile and FAFSA due
Mid-Februay	Early Decision II Decision Release	Look for an email with details about our release date and time, as well as instructions for accessing your decision
Late February	Early Decision II Enrollment Deposit Due	Log onto your Application Status Page to confirm your enrollment

Regular Decision
Date	Deadline	Additional Details
Jan. 10, 2026*	Regular Decision Deadline	Application, scholarship application, CSS Profile and FAFSA due
Mid-March	Regular Decision Decision Release	Look for an email with details about our release date and time, as well as instructions for accessing your decision
May 1, 2026	Regular Decision Enrollment Deposit Due	Log onto your Application Status Page to confirm your enrollment

All First Year Applicants
Date	Deadline	Additional Details
Aug. 1, 2025	Application Opens	Common Application and Coalition Application open
Oct. 1, 2025	Financial Aid Forms Become Available	The CSS Profile and FAFSA open for the 25-26 application cycle
May 5, 2026	Outstanding Financial Aid Documents Due	Any outstanding tax forms or verification documents due.
June 1, 2026	Deferral Requests Due	Requests to defer enrolment for one year due to Admissions
July 1, 2026	Official Test Scores Due**	Required for all enrolled students
July 1, 2026	Final High School Transcript Due	Official final high school transcripts for enrolling students due to Admissions

*These are new deadlines that will take effect for the 2025-26 application cycle.

**Students who chose to self-report scores, or chose not to submit test scores, on their application will be required to submit verified test scores if they have taken the ACT or SAT. This will allow the Office of Admissions to understand and assess its current pilot of the test-optional policy. Please know that, for test-optional applicants, submitting official scores after enrolling will not change your admission decision and will strictly be used for research purposes. Students who have never taken the SAT or ACT and do not have scores available are not required to submit a score and should email us at appdocs@bucknell.edu to let us know they've never taken the SAT or ACT. Official scores must be received by May 15. If you are not sure whether you have already submitted official test scores, please log in to your application portal and view your checklist.