Bucknell Earns Highest U.S. News Ranking Since 2011

Bucknell University has earned its highest placement in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges list in 15 years, placing No. 29 among National Liberal Arts Colleges in the new rankings, released today. Bucknell also ranked No. 29 in that category in 2011.

The University moved up from No. 30 among National Liberal Arts Colleges last year and has now placed in the top 30 for the third time in four years.

Bucknell also ranked No. 26 among Top Private Schools — National Liberal Arts Colleges, further reinforcing the University's standing among the nation's leading private institutions.

The University received U.S. News & World Report recognition across several specialty categories, including its undergraduate engineering programs and first-year student experience. The University tied at No. 10 among Most Innovative National Liberal Arts Colleges and tied at No. 24 nationally for First-Year Experiences.

Bucknell's College of Engineering ranked No. 8 nationally among Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs at institutions where a doctorate is not offered. Several individual engineering programs again placed among the nation's best, with mechanical engineering ranking No. 3 and civil engineering, computer engineering and electrical & electronic engineering each ranking No. 4.

"While no ranking can fully capture the transformative experience our students have at Bucknell, this recognition reflects the extraordinary commitment of our faculty and staff and the accomplishments of our students and alumni," says Bucknell President John Bravman. "To receive such strong recognition across a range of national rankings speaks to the enduring value of a Bucknell education — one that combines the breadth of the liberal arts with outstanding professional programs and prepares our graduates to lead lives of purpose and impact."

The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings evaluate institutions using measures that include graduation and retention rates, peer assessment, faculty resources, financial resources and student outcomes.

The U.S. News rankings are the latest in a series of national recognitions for Bucknell this year.

Forbes recently ranked Bucknell No. 19 among its Top 50 Small Colleges, a list recognizing private institutions with less than 4,000 undergraduate students. The ranking considers measures including alumni earnings, return on investment, graduation rates and academic success.

Bucknell also placed No. 28 among the Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America in Niche’s latest rankings. Niche, which provides information to help students and families research and select colleges, also ranked Bucknell No. 9 among all colleges and universities in Pennsylvania.

In addition, Bucknell ranked No. 56 among all U.S. colleges and universities, regardless of category, in TIME America's Best Colleges 2026-2027 rankings.

Together, the rankings recognize different dimensions of the Bucknell experience, from academic quality and innovation to engineering education, student experience and postgraduate outcomes.