Villanova University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 6,938 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes96
Value33
Affordability3
Selectivity94
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 27%, Villanova University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
27%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1395 – 1510
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
32 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Villanova University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Villanova University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $43,756 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$43,756
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
35%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$67,776
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,694
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,694
Books & Supplies
$710
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,300
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,300
Total Cost of Attendance
$84,793
Application fee: $80 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,823
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,496
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,923
$75,001 – $110,000
$33,389
Over $110,000
$58,741
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,56210%percentile
$13,50025%percentile
$25,874Medianpercentile
$27,62875%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $26,500
↑ $626
No Pell $24,208
↓ $1,666
Dependent students $25,000
↓ $874
Independent students $25,000
↓ $874
Female students $25,000
↓ $874
Male students $25,000
↓ $874
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,712, less than completers ($25,874), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
83% of full-time students who enrolled at Villanova University graduate within six years, and 95% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
83%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
95%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Villanova University earn a median of $100,423 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$100,423
Earning > $25K
94%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$79,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$96,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$77,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$86,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$89,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,800, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
4.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Villanova University is home to 6,938 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
6,938
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 67.7%4,694
Hispanic 11.3%787
Asian 6.7%464
Black 6.5%449
Other 4.2%291
International 1.8%125
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Villanova University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbVillanova, Pennsylvania
Housing
Strongly residential5,400 beds for 6,938 students
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Villanova University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
123 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Villanova University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$2.0B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$121,552
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
769 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
238
31%
$162,372
Associate Professors
255
33%
$120,507
Assistant Professors
211
27%
$90,744
Instructors
65
8%
$68,908
Pros & Cons of Villanova University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Villanova University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Villanova University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Villanova University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Villanova University.
Is Villanova University hard to get into?
Villanova University is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 27%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Villanova University?
Villanova University has an acceptance rate of 27%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Villanova University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Villanova University scored between 1395 and 1510 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Villanova University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Villanova University scored between 32 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Villanova University cost?
The average net price after aid at Villanova University is $43,756 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Villanova University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $100,423 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $43,756 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Villanova University known for?
Villanova University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Finance, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Villanova University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Villanova University are $100,423, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Villanova University accredited?
Yes. Villanova University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Villanova University?
Villanova University enrolls 6,938 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Villanova University?
Villanova University graduates 83% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Villanova University a public or private college?
Villanova University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Villanova University located?
Villanova University is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Villanova University offer?
Villanova University offers 123 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Finance, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Villanova University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Villanova University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Other colleges in Pennsylvania share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
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Rankings That Feature Villanova University
Villanova University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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84 UCD Score
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84 UCD Score
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86 UCD Score
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$6,233 Lowest Net
$114,862 Top Earn
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84 UCD Score
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$6,398 Lowest Net
$114,862 Top Earn
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The top Nursing colleges in Pennsylvania, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
84 UCD Score
93 Colleges
$5,167 Lowest Net
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Best Psychology Colleges in Pennsylvania
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84 UCD Score
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