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Bucknell Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

86% 4-Year Graduation Rate
90% 6-Year Graduation Rate
92% Retention Rate

Bucknell University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at Bucknell? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.

Bucknell Retention Rate

92% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 92% students making it past their freshmen year, Bucknell has freshmen retention rates above the national average.

Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.

When looking at just colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.

Bucknell Retention  92 out of 100
0%
100%
Pennsylvania Retention  73 out of 100
0%
100%
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Retention Rate
Bucknell92%
Nationwide70.57%
Pennsylvania73.24%

Bucknell Graduation Rates

90% 6-Year Graduation Rate
8.20% Transfer Rate
1.05% Dropout Rate

Of the 858 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?

After four years 86% of the cohort graduated. After six years 90% had completed their degree, and 91% after eight years.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Bucknell graduation rate 90%.

The average Bucknell student takes 4.05 years to graduate with their bachelors.

Four Year Graduation Rate  86%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  90%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  91%
0%
100%

Bucknell Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years82086%
Six Years85890%
Eight Years51%
Did Not Complete889%
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
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Bucknell Drop Out Rate

Approximately 88 students or 9% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 88 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled11.1%
Transferred7888.6%
Dropped Out1011.4%

Bucknell Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
Asian93%
Black / African-American86%
Hispanic88%
International83%
Multi-Ethnic90%
Unknown100%
White88%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.

Traditional Students:

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.

Non-Traditional Students:

Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.

The majority of students at Bucknell are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.

First-Time / Full-Time Bucknell Graduation Rates

97% First-Time, Full-Time
90% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Bucknell University represent 97% of the students in the class of 2015, and 96.74% of Bucknell bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 86%, first-time students in the Bucknell class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Bucknell graduation rate was 90%, and by the eight year mark, 91% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  86 out of 100
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  90 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  91 out of 100
0%
100%

Bucknell First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsBucknellNationwide
Four Years86%37.92%
Six Years90%46.43%
Eight Years91%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time Bucknell Drop Out Rates

85 first-time / full-time students or 9% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled11.18%
Transferred7689.41%
Dropped Out910.59%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on Bucknell first-time, part-time students.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

3% Returning, Full-Time
90% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

30 Bucknell students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.15% of the students in the class of 2015.

Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.

With a six year graduation rate of 90%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 90%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  90 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  90 out of 100
0%
100%

Bucknell Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsBucknellNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years90%53.83%
Eight Years90%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Bucknell Drop Out Rates

3 non first-time / part-time students or 10% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred266.67%
Dropped Out133.33%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

0% Returning, Part-Time
100% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

1 Bucknell students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.11% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 100%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 100%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  100 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  100 out of 100
0%
100%

Bucknell Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsBucknellNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years100%36.03%
Eight Years100%37.80%

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