Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, Bucknell traces its origin to a group of Baptists from White Deer Valley Baptist Church who deemed it "desirable that a Literary Institution should be established in Central Pennsylvania, embracing a High School for male pupils, another for females, a College and also a Theological Institution.

One day earlier, the trustees had elected Howard Malcom as the first president of the university, a post he held for six years.

This commitment was reflected in the words of David Jayne Hill of the Class of 1874, and president of the college from 1879 to 1888: "We need in Pennsylvania, in the geographical centre of the state, a University, not in the German but in the American sense, where every branch of non-professional knowledge can be pursued, regardless of distinction of sex.

In 1881, facing dire financial circumstances, the college turned to William Bucknell, a charter member of the board of trustees, for help.

When the Depression brought a drop in enrollment in 1933, several members of the faculty were "loaned" to found a new institution: Bucknell Junior College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

The depression era also saw the commissioning by President Homer Rainey (1931–35) of architect Jens Larson to design Bucknell's master plan.

Chief among these is the Ellen Clarke Bertrand Library, commissioned in 1946 under Bucknell President and former Governor of Maine Horace Hildreth and opened in 1951.

A growing reputation and changing expectations for undergraduate education in the United States called for improved facilities.

In the 1980s, the capacity of Bertrand Library was doubled, facilities for engineering were substantially renovated, and the Weis Center for the Performing Arts was inaugurated.

[14] Bucknell's 450-acre (180 ha) campus comprises more than 100 buildings located over a gentle rise adjacent to the West Branch Susquehanna River.

It offers views northwest across the Buffalo Valley toward Mount Nittany and southeast across the Susquehanna River toward Montour Ridge.

Bucknell's campus forms a cohesive architectural ensemble due to the sustained use of brick and the recurrent themes of Georgian style.

[19] The 5-acre (2.0 ha) organic farm overlooking Montour Ridge offers learning and service opportunities for students and provides fresh, local produce for the institution's dining system.

Along with a 1.76-megawatt solar array installed in 2022,[20] the farm reflects Bucknell's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and long-term environmental sustainability.

[23] In 2023, the school began the first part of the Bucknell Greenway, what will be a 4-mile (6.4 km) educational recreation path around campus, while also connecting to the athletic fields across U.S. Route 15.

With the addition for the Freeman College of Management in 2017, Bucknell offers a balance of foundational liberal-arts study and pre-professional training, a statistic reflected in the 25% of students who choose to double major.

[28] The college emphasizes intellectual community in diversity, transformative education for the common good, mentorship that encourages students to lead examined lives and leading-edge research and scholarship.

[31] The Geisinger-Bucknell Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute was formed in April 2013 as a partnership between Bucknell and the Geisinger Health System, headquartered in nearby Danville.

[34] In the 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report, Bucknell tied for 31st in the "National Liberal Arts Colleges" category.

Beginning in 2022, Bucknell like most of its peer institutions is now test optional, meaning applicants can choose whether or not to submit SAT and ACT scores when applying.

Bucknell has over 150 student organizations,[50] a historical downtown cinema (Campus Theatre), a makerspace and crafts studio (7th Street Studio) and a calendar full of visiting speakers, art exhibits, performances, recitals, and year-end celebrations such as the "Chrysalis" ball and dinners sponsored by international student organizations.

As of 2024[update], Bucknell University has seven active fraternity chapters and nine active sorority chapters:[52] Alumni of Bucknell University include: Burma's first physician Shaw Loo (class of 1863),[53] National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson (1902), Pro Football Hall of Fame Fullback/Linebacker Clarke Hinkle (1932), actor Ralph Waite (1952), novelist Philip Roth (1954), investor and philanthropist Ken Langone (1957), actor Edward Herrmann (1965), literary theorist and translator Peggy Kamuf (1969), CBS media executive Leslie Moonves (1971), author and pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City Tim Keller (1972),[54] 2016 Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry, Peter Balakian (1973), New Jersey congressman Rob Andrews (1979), CEO of Lord & Taylor and The Children's Place, Jane T. Elfers (1983), entrepreneur Jessica Jackley (2000), and basketball player Mike Muscala (2013).