Villanova University
About
Villanova University is a private Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842 and named after Saint Thomas of Villanova. The university is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania and one of two Augustinian institutions of higher learning in the United States.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 2.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 139 Title IV programs, 44 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 95 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing44 · 31.7%
- No Data95 · 68.3%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Programmatic accreditations · 8
Action history · 9
- Mar 2022Renewal of AccreditationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
- Oct 2021Grant Substantive Change: OtherMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
- Oct 2021Renewal of AccreditationCouncil on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs · Nurse Anesthesia (ANEST) - Institutions and programs at the master's degree, post master's certificate or doctoral degree levels
- Oct 2019Renewal of AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNDNP) - Nursing education programs at the doctorate degree levels
- Oct 2019Renewal of AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 1,092 students received $6.8M in Pell grants, alongside $54.5M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 1,807 borrowers who entered repayment, 7 (0.3%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Villanova
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 14
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus79
- Public property1
Includes 70 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Race3
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Klekotka Hall1 fireCookingDamage $0-$99
- Canon Hall1 fireCookingDamage $0-$99
Data quality: 5 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Villanova vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Villanova selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectVillanova University | 92% | — | 10,041 | $44,876 | R2 Research |
American University | 75% | 62.0% | 12,321 | $41,945 | R2 Research |
Boston College | 91% | 16.4% | 15,432 | $39,866 | R1 Research |
Fordham University | 82% | 59.3% | 16,150 | $42,581 | R2 Research |
Georgetown University | 95% | 12.9% | 20,031 | $39,433 | R1 Research |
Lehigh University | 88% | 25.9% | 7,692 | $33,549 | R2 Research |
Marquette University | 83% | 81.3% | 11,746 | $29,237 | R2 Research |
Northeastern University | 91% | 5.2% | 32,553 | $32,116 | R1 Research |
Saint Louis University | 80% | 75.0% | 17,059 | $27,075 | R2 Research |
Southern Methodist University | 84% | 63.3% | 12,116 | $41,778 | R2 Research |
Texas Christian University | 85% | 44.5% | 12,938 | $33,531 | R2 Research |
University of Notre Dame | 95% | 11.3% | 13,042 | $27,823 | R1 Research |
University of San Diego | 84% | 52.4% | 9,714 | $31,265 | R2 Research |
Wake Forest University | 89% | 21.7% | 9,322 | $28,746 | R2 Research |
| Peer group median | 87% | 44.5% | 12,630 | $33,540 |
Villanova Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (OSPIE) is dedicated to facilitating and supporting strategic planning and assessing the effectiveness of Villanova University in pursuit of continuous improvement.
Visit IR office page- Stephen A. Sheridan, Jr.Senior Director for Institutional Effectiveness
- Kenneth TsangSenior Research Analyst, Institutional Effectiveness
Research funding
External research funding from NSF, NIH, HERD, and federal spending sources.
Common Data Set (3)
The institution's official annual Common Data Set publications — the most detailed reference for enrollment, admissions, and outcomes.
Reports & documents (6)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- Data definitionData Governance | Villanova UniversityThe Data Governance page at Villanova University outlines the framework, principles, and organizational structure managing the University's institutional data, ensuring its quality, security, and utility. The page details the roles and responsibilities of various committees and stakeholders involved in data management and policy creation, emphasizing transparency, data stewardship, and compliance with federal and state regulations.villanova.edu
- Data dictionaryData GovernanceThe Data Governance framework at Villanova University involves the coordination and collaboration of people, processes, and technology to manage institutional data. It establishes principles and guidelines for data acquisition, classification, accessibility, integrity, security, retention, disposal, and privacy. The framework encompasses administrative, academic, and survey data used for reporting and decision-making. Exclusions include faculty research data and sensitive health or advising data. The ecosystem is led by the Data Governance Committee which includes the Data Governance Board and Data Stewards Committee, each with specific roles and responsibilities in ensuring data quality, compliance, and integrity across the university.villanova.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookUniversity Statistics | Villanova University2023This page provides an overview of Villanova University's statistical dashboards, including data on student profiles, undergraduate retention and graduation rates, enrollment statistics, degree completion, faculty profiles, and community trends. The page highlights interactive dashboards available for different academic years, with current data going up to at least Fall 2023. The information is managed by the Office of Decision Support and Data Integrity.villanova.edu
- GlossaryGlossary of Academic Terms | Villanova UniversityThis glossary from Villanova University details key academic terms and offices relevant to students. It includes explanations of various roles such as advisors and counselors, academic policies, and procedural terms essential for navigating university life. Villanova emphasizes academic integrity and offers resources for students to achieve their educational objectives.villanova.edu
- Strategic planVillanova University's Strategic Plan: Rooted. Restless.2020Villanova University's Strategic Plan, titled 'Rooted. Restless.' for 2020-2030, aims to elevate the institution by adhering to its Augustinian Catholic values while fostering change. The plan emphasizes advancing teaching, research, and community connection, supported by investments in infrastructure and sustainability. By engaging over 5000 participants in its creation, Villanova seeks to build on its strengths to ensure academic and community success.villanova.edu
Notable alumni of Villanova (18)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Maria BelloArts, entertainment, and journalism
- Victor BuonoArts, entertainment, and journalism
- Bradley CooperArts, entertainment, and journalism
- Jim CroceArts, entertainment, and journalism
- Don McLeanArts, entertainment, and journalism
- Keith JonesArts, entertainment, and journalism
- Chris GheysensBusiness, law, and economics
- Andrew M. AllenEducation, engineering, and the sciences
- Ed RendellGovernment, politics, and military
- Jill BidenGovernment, politics, and military
- Kelly AyotteGovernment, politics, and military
- Howie LongSports and athletics
Frequently asked questions about Villanova University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Villanova.
What is the graduation rate at Villanova University?
How many students attend Villanova University?
What is the average net price at Villanova University?
What is the yield rate at Villanova University?
Where is Villanova University located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Villanova University?
Have a question this page can’t answer?
Ask Clema anything about Villanova University and its peers — plain language in, cited answers out, in minutes instead of days.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card