Villanova University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Villanova, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- Early Action
- 25,841
- Applicants
- 7,272
- Admitted28%
- 1,805
- Enrolled
- 25%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective28% admittedRanked #42 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #87 (tie), Business Programs #58 (tie), Computer Science #110 (tie), Nursing #27 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Villanova University (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Villanova University a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Villanova University against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Villanova University is a private nonprofit university in Villanova, Pennsylvania that admits about 28% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $43,756 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Finance and Financial Management Services, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Communication and Media Studies, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 93% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Villanova University is a private institution located in Villanova, Pennsylvania with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Villanova University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 28%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1450 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $43,756 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Villanova University?
73% of enrolled students at Villanova University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.87, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Villanova University with the other schools on your list
Open Villanova University in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does Villanova University weight in admissions?
Villanova University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
Important
5- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
Considered
7- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Work experience
Not Considered
3- Interview
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Villanova University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 695. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1420 |
| 50th percentile | 1450 |
| 75th percentile | 1490 |
| % submitting SAT | 19% |
| 25th percentile | 32 |
| 50th percentile | 34 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 9% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional through the 2026-27 admission cycle (Class of 2031).
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Villanova University's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 81% |
| Top 25% of class | 95% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| % submitting class rank | 19% |
How much does Villanova University actually cost?
Published tuition is $67,776 for in-state students and $67,776 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,694 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $43,756 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 12% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $72,990 |
| Room and board | $19,354 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $43,756 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 84% |
| Average need-based grant | $51,847 |
| Average merit award, no financial need119 first-year students received one | $38,439 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 45% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $43,841 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Villanova University
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 15 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 60% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Villanova University?
These predict outcomes at Villanova University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Villanova University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Villanova University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Communication and Media Studies. Across all programs, Villanova University confers roughly 1,190 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $133,548 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 231 | $133,548 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 220 | $93,510 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 155 | $74,641 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 140 | n/a |
| Economics | 124 | $100,245 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 109 | $114,801 |
| Political Science and Government | 106 | $85,999 |
| Psychology, General | 105 | $73,774 |
Is Villanova University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Villanova University disclosed 11 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 4 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Villanova University?
About 82% of undergraduates at Villanova University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 17% of men join a fraternity and 39% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about
- Swarthmore College7% acceptance
- Haverford College12% acceptance
- Lafayette College31% acceptance
- York College of Pennsylvania74% acceptance
- Westminster College93% acceptance
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania78% acceptance
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania87% acceptance
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania86% acceptance
Next steps for Villanova University
Common questions parents ask about Villanova University
What GPA do I need for Villanova University?
73% of enrolled students at Villanova University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.87, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Villanova University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 695. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–34.
How much does Villanova University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Villanova University after grants and scholarships is $43,756 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $67,776. Budget against the net figure.
Is Villanova University realistic for my child?
Villanova University admits 28% of applicants, so 710–770 SAT Math is target range and below 710 is a reach. Then check the $43,756 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Villanova University?
Villanova University accepts about 28% of applicants out of roughly 25,841 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Villanova University test-optional?
Yes. Villanova University is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Villanova University?
About 93% of students at Villanova University graduate within six years, and 89% finish in four years. 95% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Villanova University?
Villanova University's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 60%, compared with its overall rate of 28%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Villanova University look for in applicants?
Villanova University rates course rigor, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Villanova University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Villanova University is a private nonprofit institution located in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
What are the most popular majors at Villanova University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Villanova University by annual graduates are Finance and Financial Management Services, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Communication and Media Studies. The school awards about 1,190 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Villanova University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Villanova University reported 11 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Villanova University?
At Villanova University, 82% of undergraduates live on campus, 17% of men are in fraternities, 39% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Villanova University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers