Hi everyone! I applied to both of these schools rd (2021), but I want to gain some insight. I love both of these colleges, but I do not live in the Northeast therefore I don’t know what the general opinion is of these schools. I was wondering what is the reputation of both Bucknell and Lafayette. I know they are good LAC’s with excellent academics, but is one viewed in a higher regard or more prestigious than the other? I would not be doing engineering at either if that helps. Any input or feedback would be greatly appreciated thanks!
Both schools are well regarded and offer excellent academics. One is not viewed as more prestigious than the other. The major differences would be location with Bucknell being more isolated, size, with Bucknell slightly larger, and social scene, with Bucknell having more of a preppy, party vibe. But all in all, these schools are probably more alike than different.
For full disclosure my D graduated from Lafayette but when we were looking at colleges we considered these schools to be peer institutions academically. To us the most notable academic difference was that Bucknell offered a business program and Lafayette doesn’t but that was not my D’s area of interest. Socially, Bucknell appeared to us to be more heavy Greek based as compared to Lafayette.
These two Patriot League schools are quite similar, and it really depends on the type of person you are. While Bucknell does have an active social/party scene, it is a very isolated campus with less going on in the surrounding community. Lafayette, on the other hand, has a good social scene, but students do not rush greek life until sophomore year which changes the party dynamic a bit (I personally like this- it creates a better transition at the start of freshmen year). Also, the Eason area is growing exponentially and is very involved with th campus. The surrounding area is great and there are good restaurants and shops around. It is also closer to NYC, Philly, and Newark.
Honestly, it depends on your values and what are your priorities in a school, but Lafayette wins for me in the end. I was considering both, and I am a current first-year at Lafayette and I absolutely love it. The opportunities are ENDLESS no matter your major or status in high school, the alumni network is so wonderful, you’d think these connections would only be seen at a huge Big-10 school, and the balance the school places on being an active scholar make all my peers here at Laf so inspiring. Lafayette is just a wonderful school if you want to be engaged, stay curious and grow as a student and person.
Another note- although Laf doesn’t have a business school, a Lafayette degree in general goes very far and many grads just major in a good field (finance, econ or international relations) and go on to get their MBA.
FYI. Bucknell students dont rush until sophomore year either. But I do agree that Bucknell appears a bit more Greek dominated. I have students at both colleges.
My daughter applied and was accepted at both schools. She ultimately chose Lafayette but really could have gone either way - it was a very hard decision. Like mrc4081 - my daughter is a first year at Lafayette and we couldn’t imagine her being happier at a school. That said, Bucknell is in MA where we live a bit more known than Lafayette, which still draws blanks from many people. But that seems to be the only advantage - otherwise, both terrific schools.
wait and see if there is a decision made for you by the colleges (or financial difference too)- I am also guessing those aren’t the only two LACs where you applied
The two schools are more or less equal academically, but with a few key differences:
- Lafayette is a smaller, traditional liberal arts college (with engineering), while Bucknell is more a liberal arts university because it has different schools and a graduate presence.
- Lafayette is about 90 mins from New York City and Philadelphia, while Bucknell is in a more rural location (roughly 3 hours from either city).
- Lafayette has a more intellectual vibe, Bucknell is more fratty.
Stats-wise, the two schools are quite comparable, with Lafayette being slightly more selective.