Excellent academics and Division I sports, and a vibrant student experience – all located on a picturesque, historical campus makes Villanova University one of the most sought-after universities in the United States.
Since its founding in 1818, “Nova” has educated students on their campus in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Over 11,000 undergrad or graduate students and law students are enrolled in this private arts institution in the U.S. U.S. News & World Report listed it as #53 in its 2021 ranking of universities across the nation. Students can select from over 150-degree programs and degrees.
Villanova was also ranked third on The Economist’s list of “Best Economic Value” schools. According to The Princeton Review, every first-year student is awarded an average grant or scholarship package of $32,722. The annual cost of tuition is $56,730.
A Villanova degree can also position graduates for success in the future. The median salary of graduates is higher than $63,000, following U.S. News & World Report.
Students are concerned about their education (92 percent of Villanova students are graduates) and their community. The school has six colleges devoted to engineering, business, and nursing. There are also smaller class sizes, with the ratio of students to faculty at 11:1.
When they’re not involved in one among the two-65 other extracurricular organizations or activities clubs and intramural sports, as well as 24 varsity sports, “Villanovans” rack up 249,000 hours of community service every year, as per the university.
Acceptance Rate
abbike18, Corr Hall, CC BY-SA 3.0
With this high level of interest for Villanova, however, it is not the case that everyone who would like to get in is admitted. Candidates for the class of 2025 who were the most recently recognized were from 56 and 48 countries.
U.S. News & World Report considers Villanova a “most selective university,” and the recent data makes that evident. The school received over 24,000 applicants to be part of the 2025 class of undergraduates and the 22,000 the year before. The university admitted 25% of applicants, intending to welcome 1,675 students. For 2024’s style, it accepted only 31% of applicants planning to have the same size.
Villanova provides the option of making an early decision for those who apply, which is not binding but is an excellent result for those who decide to pursue this option. The acceptance rate for early choices is 56%, as per U.S. News & World Report.
Villanova will also consider applications from transfer students during the spring and fall.
Villanova University GPA
Students in high school hoping to go to Villanova University will need some impressive grades to get into the top tier. According to the Princeton Review, the student’s high school GPA and the degree of difficulty they had in their studies “are two factors that weigh most heavily in college admission,” according to the Princeton Review.
Students who were accepted into the 2024 class achieved an average high school GPA of 4.23. More than a third of them had a grade of 3.75 or more.
In the case of those admitted to the class, the middle 50 percent GPA of the course was 4.12 up to 4.49 in the weighted 4.00 range.
A GPA with a weighted weighting “accounts for honors and AP designations, granting you more credit for more challenging courses,” College Vine said. This means that students taking the AP or honors class which can be more challenging than regular classes will receive more points than count towards their GPA. Therefore, those who want to get into Villanova could wish to think ahead for their high school career and be able to excel in advanced courses to make their GPAs closer to others who are applying.
SAT & ACT Requirements
Exams like the SAT and the ACT played a significant part in college admissions for students of all ages. However, this has changed in recent years due to the pandemic of coronavirus.
While schools closed and students were placed in the quarantine zone, students across the country could not take the crucial college entrance tests. Many colleges, including Villanova, made the test mandatory for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 admission cycles.
Villanova affirms that it follows a “holistic” approach to its admissions process and that test scores have been one element.
The applicants who do not provide the scores of their tests will be evaluated by other criteria, such as their essays, grades, or recommendation letters. Not including exam scores won’t impact any scholarship decision, either.
Students interested in taking the test can choose to provide their scores when applying for admission, even though the optional writing section isn’t mandatory. Villanova’s class recently admitted those who provided their scores scored well on each test.
The mid-to-low 50 percent SAT self-reported scores varied between 1370 and 1500 of 1600. for the ACT, it was 31-34 out of 36.
Candidates who wish to report their scores self-report the scores, get them listed on the official transcripts of their high school or have the testing company send the scores straight for verification to Villanova.
Requirements & Admission Tips
Nfutvol., Villanova Monastery, CC BY-SA 2.5
Villanova accepts applications starting in August. 1. Students are given until November. 1 to submit their applications for consideration to receive an early decision or action.
For all other applicants, the deadline to apply is January. 15.
Villanova cannot permit students to apply to an “undeclared” major. Students interested in applying must choose the specific field and one of Villanova’s undergraduate schools.
However, students who aren’t sure about the subject would like flexibility. They can apply for the exploratory Arts program offered by The university’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Students hoping to be admitted into a specific academic program should ensure that they have taken the appropriate high school courses. The university suggests that business students have at least one year of math, and engineering students must have completed a physics course. Nursing students considering pursuing a nursing degree must have completed one year of Chemistry and biology at the high school level.
Villanova does not need interviews to be completed for applicants. However, they want to hear from those familiar with them the most well. The school counselor and an instructor from their high school have to provide letters of recommendation.
Essays
Although they do not have to be interviewed by someone on the campus, students must still communicate their ideas to the school via three writing essays.
Villanova utilizes an application called the Common Application. This nonprofit organization simplifies application procedures for applicants who want to apply to participating schools.
Students applying to Villanova must include the essay they submitted to fill out their Common Application and two shorter essays specific to the school. The university noted that it sees the essays “as an exceptional opportunity for students to step beyond the transcript and show who they are who the applicant is. .”
In the 2021-22 academic year, Villanova students can choose between questions like “What is the truest thing that you know?” and “Tell us about a societal issue that you believe the wonder of technology is well-poised to help solve” in their first essay.
The second essay required the students to explain why they would like “to call Villanova your new home and become part of our community?”
Notable Alumni
Due to its wide range of academic options, Villanova has seen many of its alumni achieve greatness in many areas.
Celebrities who have studied at the university include the first Lady Jill Biden, who earned master’s degrees in English and acting Maria Bello, who’s starred in TV shows like “NCIS” and the films “World Trade Center” and “Coyote Ugly.” Also, Albert Jacobs, co-founder and chief executive positive for Life Are Good. Life Is Good brand.
The strong athletics program at Villanova also has produced some top talent, including over 60 Olympians. The national championship basketball team has also made notable names, including the later NBA stars Paul Arizin and Tim Thomas.
NFL Hall of Hall of Famer Howie Long was a player on the team of Villanova from 1977 to 1980 before beginning his professional career in television and sports, and he’s not forgotten where he first started. Long and his wife Diane, a Nova alumnus, donated $1 million to the school’s capital campaign in 2015. Villanova’s newly opened weight room is now called The Howie Lang Strength Training Center.
Does Villanova The Right Choice for You?
The Order of Saint Augustine founded Villanova in 1842. The university’s Catholic tradition is an integral element of the university over a century later. Villanova strives to provide an environment where students can “learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others.”
When it comes to identifying the most suitable students to join its ranks, The admissions office can consider its “three core values” – Veritas (Truth), Unitas (Unity), and Caritas (Love) and how the applicants have responded to these.
Although its lengthy record of academic excellence and its long tradition offers plenty of attractions, Villanova can also be a great, thrilling location.
The men’s basketball team was victorious in the NCAA championship in 2016 and 2018, with a supportive, active student body backing it. Even students who do not participate in Division I sports get in on the excitement, which is the majority of 53 percent of the students playing the intramural sport.
Villanova is also known for its active campus, having 69% of students living on the campus. Apart from the over 200 student groups and clubs, the school also has many fraternities and sororities. About 21% of the students belong to fraternities, and 26% belong to sororities. If students wish to escape from all the chaos and go to the city light of Philadelphia is only two miles away.
If environmental awareness plays an essential factor in selecting an institution, Villanova already has taken measures to improve its relations with the Earth. The university has launched the Climate Action Plan and aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions in 2050.
Villanova provides a top-quality education in a small environment. Students interested in attending the school must have a solid academic background and a character that’s up to the task. Students can take advantage of many opportunities outside the classroom.
