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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Bucknell
Decision sheet

Pennsylvania · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Pennsylvania liberal arts and engineering university with a portfolio of named merit programs (Bauer, Dean's, Engineering, Gamgort, Langone, Malesardi, Management, Presidential Fellowship) and an unusually explicit coa-cap policy that displaces Bucknell aid dollar-for-dollar above the cost of attendance.

Published academic criteria. These awards are recorded as automatic on academic criteria. Match the published grades and scores, then check residency, entering year and every additional condition.

Awards to discuss

First 3 of 8 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Engineering Merit Scholars Program

Among Bucknell's most prestigious scholarships; specific dollar amount not published · Published award terms

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

GPA: 3.2 cumulative GPA required for renewal (after admission)

Eligibility: Major within the College of Engineering. No additional application required — admission application doubles as the scholarship application. Recipients receive notifications with their admissions decision. Financial need is not a requirement.

Renewal: Renewable annually if participation expectations are met. Merit Scholarship awards do not increase in subsequent years. Requires a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA both overall and within the College of Engineering, with full-time enrollment.

https://www.bucknell.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-fees-financial-aid/scholarship-programs/engineering-merit-scholars-program

Presidential Fellowship Program

Named top merit award; specific dollar amount not published · Published award terms

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

Eligibility: No additional application required. Awarded through the admission decision.

Renewal: Recorded as renewable. Full renewal conditions are not recorded here; request them from the school.

Other terms: Named for the university president; among Bucknell's signature merit programs.

https://www.bucknell.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-fees-financial-aid/scholarship-programs

Dean's Scholarships

Merit award; specific dollar amount not published · Published award terms

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

Eligibility: No additional application required. Awarded based on admission credentials.

Renewal: Recorded as renewable. Full renewal conditions are not recorded here; request them from the school.

https://www.bucknell.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-fees-financial-aid/scholarship-programs

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: Bucknell publishes a clean COA cap on gift aid from all sources. Once total gift aid (Bucknell + federal + state + private + tuition benefits + VA + similar) reaches Bucknell's cost of attendance, Bucknell reduces its own aid — both need-based and merit-based — dollar for dollar to prevent surplus. Non-need loans (Unsubsidized Stafford, PLUS, Alternative) do not trigger a reduction.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/bucknell-university/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.