Villanova’s beautiful 254-acre campus is located twelve miles west of Philadelphia, in
the famed “Main Line” suburban area. Villanova is the oldest and largest Catholic university
in Pennsylvania, and was founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine. Saint Augustine
believed in a commitment to community, and to the connections between the mind and the
heart, and between truth and love. The Augustinian values stated on our university seal—
Veritas, Unitas, Caritas—(translated as truth, unity, and love) still guide “’Nova Nation” today. Villanova is home to students of all faiths, and tends to attract students who are dedicated
to social responsibility, volunteer work, and contributing to the greater good.
The most distinctive aspect of Villanova is its sense of community, since
this is the aspect of the university that permeates all others and in many ways
defines what it means to be a Villanovan. The care that people show for one
another, both on our campus and across the world, is tangible and on display
constantly. This community focus is central to everything—from coursework to
social events to volunteer opportunities. It even flows through our 90,000-strong
alumni community. As a recent alumna, I’ve already gone back to Villanova for
several events and I would like to maintain a strong connection to the university
for many years to come. During my four years there, I was helped by countless
Villanova alumni in all different facets of life and I would like nothing more
than to give back as much as I have received.
Villanova’s scenic campus, a designated arboretum, has more than sixty buildings—
including twenty-six residence halls and a library with more than 800,000 volumes. In addition
to offering more than forty rigorous academic programs, Villanova provides students
with a wide range of opportunities to study abroad and to participate in more than 130 campus
organizations. Student services are excellent—from the Villanova Laptop program to
the Student Health Center to the dining halls and “Holy Grounds” coffee shops to Career
Services.
Extracurricular opportunities at Villanova definitely appeal to a broad
range of student interests. Throughout my four years as an undergraduate, I
served as a Villanova School of Business peer advisor, a Villanova Ambassador,
a liturgical minister, and president of the National Society of Leadership and
Success. I was also involved in intramural sports, including basketball, soccer,
and club Frisbee. I led a group of 12 students on a service trip to San Jose, Costa
Rica, during my senior year, and spent a summer studying and working abroad
in London.
Villanova is also home to the new Davis Center for Athletics, along with many intramural
and varsity sports teams, including the nationally recognized Wildcat’s men’s basketball
team, which generates a lot of excitement and community spirit on campus.
Villanova is one of only five schools to have advanced to the NCAA Tournament “Sweet 16”
in three of the last four seasons.
Villanova University. Whenever the topic of my alma mater is raised, I
could speak about the rigorous academic experience, the challenging coursework,
and the world-class professors who encourage students to expand their
horizons every day. I could speak about the incredible opportunities outside of
the classroom, with the hundreds of student organizations that exist on campus.
I could talk about the wonderful opportunities afforded to Villanova students
through our internship, community service, and international studies programs.
But the most distinctive aspect of Villanova is its sense of community,
and the genuine care that people show for one another.
My Villanova experience can be summed up in four words, taken from a
speech Villanova University President Father Peter Donohue gave to a group of
students during my senior year: ‘Take Villanova with you.’ Father Donohue was
speaking about the challenges facing us as we prepared for the next stage of our
lives. He encouraged us to reflect upon our time at Villanova—upon the many
experiences that shaped us, helped us mature, and forced us to go beyond our
comfort zones. He then challenged us to take Villanova with us. Villanova provided
me with the opportunity to do just that, through an education, experience,
and community of mentors and friends who will shape the rest of my life.
Villanova University
Academics
Villanova offers degree programs through four colleges: the Villanova School of
Business, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the
College of Nursing. Graduate degree programs are also offered through the Villanova School
of Law. All Villanova colleges are recognized for their academic quality and technological
resources, and all are focused on the education and well-being of the whole person—intellectually,
emotionally, spiritually, culturally, socially, and physically.
Business
The Villanova School of Business, one of the top-ranked business programs in the United
States, offers majors in accounting, economics, finance, management, management
information systems, and marketing. The school also offers a business honors degree, an
international business co-major, and minors in entrepreneurship, real estate, and business law and corporate governance. VSB is home to the
Applied Finance Lab, which provides students with
many of the real-time technological resources
available to Wall Street traders. Bartley Hall, with
its light-filled, three-story atrium, class- and study
rooms, and common areas includes the Bartley
Exchange dining hall. The two most popular special
programs among VSB students are international
experiences and service learning. Nearly half of the
student body participates in international academic,
internship, and volunteer experiences.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences—one
of the few colleges in the country that offers an
undergraduate degree in astronomy and astrophysics—
provides a wide array of degree programs,
concentrations, and majors, along with interdisciplinary
majors in the humanities, international
studies, comprehensive science, and environmental
science. Villanova is one of only eighteen Catholic
colleges or universities in the nation to have a chapter
of Phi Beta Kappa, the prestigious liberal arts
honor society.
In 2008 Villanova celebrated the “Year of
Mendel” in honor of the famous scientist Gregor
Johann Mendel, a friar in the Order of Saint
Augustine, whose experiments with the hybridization
of pea plants led him to discover the laws of
heredity which now bear his name: the law of segregation
and the law of independent assortment.
Villanova Snapshot: Undergraduate Majors
Accounting
Art History
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Biochemistry
Biology
Business Administration: Economics,
Finance, Management, MIS, Marketing
The College of Engineering, ranked among the best engineering programs in the nation,
offers degree programs in the disciplines of chemical engineering, civil and environmental
engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.
The college is home to three research units: The Center for Advanced Communications, The
Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Control, and The Villanova Center for the Environment—
a joint effort with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The college’s home, the Villanova
Center for Engineering Education and Research, houses state-of-the-art instructional and
research labs. Additional engineering-related facilities can be found on campus in White Hall,
John Barry Hall, Tolentine Hall, and the 10,000-square-foot Structural Engineering Teaching
and Research Laboratory.
Nursing
Asmall but very special group on the Villanova campus is the student body of the College
of Nursing. A manifestation of the Augustinian spirit of caring in action, Villanova
nursing students have opportunities to work closely with community members in need
while completing their rigorous coursework.
The College of Nursing is housed in brand-new Driscoll Hall. Unveiled in 2008, this
beautiful 75,500-square-foot building offers resources including:
a 200-seat auditorium and a 200-seat lecture hall
future-oriented clinical simulation labs for health assessment, adult health, maternal/
child health, anesthesia, and critical care
simulation labs for standardized patient observation and testing
a center for nursing research and scholarship
space for prayer and reflection
space for global health studies and international student activities
space for student, faculty, and alumni events and social interaction
The technological resources available to Villanova students are outstanding. In recent
years, Villanova has installed an intelligent/multi-purpose classroom design with
enhanced audiovisual, Web, and podcasting and video conferencing options. It has also
integrated eportfolio, Wimba, iTunes, and Respondus with the Blackboard Vista LMS platform.
A Microsoft Exchange e-mail and calendar platform is now used across campus.
Villanova is standardized on the TaskStream e-Portfolio for faculty and students to share,
store, and collaborate on various learning artifacts and coursework. Villanova has upgraded
Internet bandwidth to 475 Mb, which includes a 25-Mb Internet 2 connection. Villanova
provides all undergraduate students with laptops that have access to an Internet-based
backup and vaulting product, U-Vault. Villanova has also launched an upgraded emergency
notification system, Nova Alert, a Web-based laundry reservation system, a basketball lottery
system, and a student tracking system.
Career Services
With the help of Villanova’s Career Services Office, students develop their professional
skills and gain access to a wide variety of career options. The support resources provided
to students include career fairs, career counseling, graduate school counseling,
career library, practice interviews, resume critiques, workshops, and seminars.
I was challenged by my professors to use my undergraduate accounting
degree to pursue an internship with Deloitte & Touche in Manhattan in the
spring of 2007. My internship was a phenomenal extension of my classroom learning, and
upon concluding my four months in New York, I accepted a job offer from Deloitte
& Touche. I am now enjoying my Deloitte & Touche job tremendously, and am
grateful to Villanova for providing me with the education that has allowed me to
arrive at this point in my life.
More than 1,700 companies post positions on Villanova’s job boards; the median
starting salary for Villanova graduates is $50,000. More than ninety-five percent of Villanova
graduates become full-time employees or enroll in graduate school within six months of their degree completion. Internships are also an
important source of professional development opportunities
for students. Over 400 internships are posted
on campus each year, and internships often lead to
full-time job offers.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Villanova University.
Admission to Villanova is challenging. In addition to looking for academically talented,
well-rounded students, Villanova looks for applicants who have “compassionate
minds”—in other words, those who want to transform the world and make it a better place.
Common Application
Villanova is a Common Application member institution.
In addition to the Common Application,
prospective students are required to complete a
Villanova Preliminary Application for Undergraduate
Admission and to submit an official high school transcript
and Common Application School Report.
Standardized Tests
Villanova requires applicants to have their standardized
test scores (SAT or ACT) reported
directly to Villanova by the College Board or ACT.
High School Performance
In the Villanova admissions process, high school
performance is an extremely important selectivity
factor. Each student’s high school record, GPA, and
class rank, along with each student’s demonstration
of character and personal abilities, are carefully considered. Extracurricular and volunteer
activities, in addition to outstanding academic work, are helpful to applicants in this regard.
Personal Essay and Recommendations
Another very important factor in the Villanova admissions process is the personal essay.
Since Villanova doesn’t interview applicants, the essay is a crucial vehicle through
which prospective students can explain to Villanova who they are, and why they should be
selected to become Villanovans. Recommendations are also carefully considered.
International Applicants
Non-U.S. prospective students are warmly welcomed to apply for admission to Villanova.
Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must take the Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing Systems
(IELTS) test and have scores reported directly to Villanova from the College Board. The
Villanova International Student Services Office supports enrolled international students in
areas including immigration rights and responsibilities; educational, social, and personal
counseling; cultural adjustment issues; and campus and community activities.
Transfer Applicants
Transferring to Villanova is possible, but selective. Students applying to transfer to
Villanova must complete a transfer application and submit official transcripts from each
postsecondary school attended and a completed Dean of Students Transfer Evaluation form.
Financial Aid
Villanova’s Office of Financial Aid breaks the application process down into five
straightforward steps for students and parents to follow:
Step 1: Completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the form
by which you declare your family’s financial profile
Step 2: Completion of the Villanova University Institutional Financial Aid Application
Step 3: A comprehensive check of the numbers using the SAR (Student Aid Report) and
the EFC (Expected Family Contribution)
Step 4: Receipt of award letter, detailing all funding offered to you by the federal and/or
state government and Villanova, and payment of the balance due
Step 5: Finishing up with a twenty-five-minute interview, which may be done online with
the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency or in person at the Villanova
Office of Financial Aid. This interview is a counseling session that provides information
about managing student loans, both during and after college.
Here are some statistics about financial aid at
Villanova during the 2006–07 academic year:
97.3 percent of those who applied for need-based
aid were eligible to receive some type of assistance
82.1 percent of those eligible for need-based
assistance received Villanova grants for a total of
$12 million
The average Villanova grant award was $18,000
The average assistance package for students with
demonstrated financial need (combining grants,
scholarships, loans, and student employment)
was $24,186
62.9 percent of all matriculating undergraduates
received some type of assistance
Villanova committed more than $31 million of its
resources to grant aid for undergraduate students
Expenses and Financial Aid
Tuition: $36,950
Room and Board: $10,000
Books and Supplies: $950
Financial Aid Forms Deadline:
February 7
Financial Aid Phone: (610) 519-4010
Financial Aid E-mail:
finaid@villanova.edu
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Villanova University 139th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Pennsylvania scholarships and financial aid
Students Involved in Varsity or Club
Athletics: 21%
Students who Pursue Graduate/
Professional School after Graduation:
23%
Number of Official Extracurricular
Student Organizations: 250
Number of States Represented 45
Number of Countries Represented: 48
Villanova is a fun, close-knit, caring academic
and social community. Filled with endless opportunities
to meet new friends, discover new interests, and
enjoy campus life, the undergraduate experience at
Villanova is most often warmly remembered by alumni
as “some of the best years of our lives.” In the Augustinian tradition, mutual love, respect, and
compassion are paramount values, and Villanova leaders expect these values to guide all
interactions among students outside the classroom. More than 1,300 diverse students are
members of Villanova’s ten fraternities and nine sororities, all with national affiliations.
To help students transition from high school to college, incoming freshmen have the
opportunity to be part of a Villanova Learning Community. Through Learning Communities,
students form close friendships as they live together in specially designated residence halls
and learn together in courses and cocurricular programs. Learning Communities available
to resident freshmen at Villanova include
The Leadership Experience
Citizenship for a Diverse World
Healthy Living
Environmental Leadership
Global Community
Justice: From Adam to Eve
Performers and Artists
Politics of Freedom
My Villanova experiences provided me with a unique opportunity to
learn about myself and others in my community—whether they were my roommates,
my professors across campus, the first-graders in West Philadelphia we
tutored after school each week, or the host families with whom we stayed in Costa
Rica. I accomplished things at Villanova that I’d never imagined I could when I
first set foot on campus as a freshman. What I tell incoming students is that you
may come to Villanova thinking you know a great deal about yourself and the
world, but what you realize by the time you leave Villanova is how much you
truly have left to learn! My Villanova experience taught me that it is never
enough to settle for what is good right now; our Villanova education instead
demands that we constantly strive to be better, in the classroom, at work, in our
families, in our communities, and in our world.
Volunteerism
An example of the Augustinian tradition in action is Villanova’s fall service break, which
enables students to take part in volunteer work. Villanova offers a limitless range of
service opportunities to students, many of which also serve as social events—from Habitat
for Humanity to Campus Ministry to the Villanova Rays of Sunshine program. Villanova also
hosts the largest student-run Special Olympics in the United States.
In fact, local and global community-mindedness and outreach are so important at
Villanova that all students must participate in one of the following 0-credit activities as a
graduation requirement:
Habitat for Humanity
Study Abroad
Special Olympics
Villanova Freedom School/Martin Luther King Day Activities
One program that sets Villanova apart and truly illustrates the university’s
sense of community is the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Fall Festival,
which has been held on campus every November for over two decades. During my
freshman year, I was encouraged by my hall-mates to volunteer during the
course of the weekend. The experience was so rewarding that I continued to stay
involved each year until my graduation. In my senior year, I served as registration
chair and recruited my sister, Shannon, a Villanova sophomore at the time,
to join the effort.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Villanova University?
Villanova has a very strong academic tradition in both men’s and women’s sports. The college is part of the NCAA and the Big East Conference. Students can participate as Villanova Wildcats in many sports. Villanova fields men’s teams in baseball, basketball, cross country running, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. The university fields women’s teams in basketball, cross country running, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and water polo.
Basketball is the crown jewel of Villanova athletics, the men’s basketball team advanced to the Final Four in 2009, but did not win the championship. The last championship win for the team was in 1985, in one of the most heralded upsets in college basketball history.
Villanova’s football team also enjoys great success. In 2009 the team was NCAA division 1-AA champions. The team has been invited to join the Big East Conference, and university adminsitrators are considering the offer.
The women’s cross country team is another standout, winning NCAA National Championships in 2009 and 2010 under the direction of Coach Gina Procaccio.
Villanova University
Traditions
The Catholic tradition runs deep at Villanova. The most prominent feature on campus is the St. Thomas of Villanova Church, the tallest structure on campus, which was built in 1883. Masses held at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and are fairly popular among the students.
Each year, the university holds an annual St. Thomas of Villanova Day Parade in the fall, which is a major event for students and alumni. Another important annual event is the NovaFest, which is held at the end of each academic year.
However, the university isn’t all prayer and no partying. The sights of Downtown Philly aren’t too far away, and a major rite of passage for many Villanova students when they reach the legal drinking age is going to a bar called Brownies.
Also important in Villanova lore is the Connelly Student Center, known by the unique black and white sculpture outside of it nicknamed “The Oreo” by students.
Also well-known is the university’s seal, which symbolizes the university’s roots among the Augustinians. The seal is seen throughout campus and is an ever-present symbol of the university.
Alumni
Villanova is fortunate to have an extremely
loyal network of alumni, parents, and friends who are
dedicated to the university and return to visit often.
There are many “Villanova families,” worldwide—
those in which several generations or siblings have
attended the university, and in which husbands and
wives met as Villanova students. There are also many
lifelong friendships formed at Villanova.
Prominent Alumni
Maria Bello, 1989, Golden Globe-
Nominated Actress
Daniel Brestle, 1967, Vice Chairman
and President, The Estee Lauder
Companies, North America
Rear Admiral Christine Bruzek-Kohler,
1974, Director, United States Navy
Nurse Corps; Chief of Staff, Navy
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Jim Croce, 1965, Recording Artist
Rev. Peter Donohue, OSA, 1975, 32nd
President of Villanova University
John L. Hennessey, III, 1973,
President, Stanford University
Nnenna Lynch, 1993, Olympian and
Rhodes Scholar
Gerald Marzorati, 1975, Author and
Editor of The New York Times
Magazine
Robert J. McCarthy, 1975, President,
North American Lodging Operations,
Marriott International
Robert Moran, 1972, President and
Chief Operating Officer, PetSmart
James V. O’Donnell, 1963, CEO,
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
Dianna Sugg, 1987, Pulitzer Prize
Recipient for Journalism, Baltimore
Sun
Brian Westbrook, 2001, NFL,
Philadelphia Eagles
General Anthony Zinni, 1965, USMC
(retired), former Commander-in-Chief,
US Central Command and US Peace
Envoy in the Middle East
Faculty
The student-to-faculty ratio at Villanova is 13:1. The university’s 571 full-time faculty
members—ninety percent of whom hold the highest degree in their field—teach
classes that average twenty-two students. This facilitates faculty accessibility and the personalized,
community-focused educational experience for which Villanova is known.
Villanova University
Additional School Information
Villanova University has its share of famous alumns, incuding astronaut Andrew Allen, former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, NFL stars Howie Long and Brian Westbrook, musician Don McLean, and actress Maria Bello.
Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Villanova University, or discuss this school in the University Discussion Forum
about 2 years agobrian
your coach said somthings about the montana grizzles, who is this guy. we invite you here after we wash your team out tommorrow. come hunting , fishing, see real mountains. that take a real man to climb. or woman. see our big skys. then say we cant compete. in your leage. go grizzzzzzzzzz.
over 3 years agoShelly A Purcell sp_and_spunky ((at)) comcast dot net
villanova is the best!
about 4 years agofrank camardo jr joyfrankcam ((at)) aol dot com
My brother went to Villanova and my son-in-law went to Villanova and I have been following the basketball teams since Jack Kraft was the coach. My son-in-law said go to Villanova. I am 58 years old and had a stroke about ten years ago. I worked for New Jersey Bell for 33 years and had to retire. I am walking better and my arm I don't have no control and was wondering what they'll do about tuition. Thanks
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your coach said somthings about the montana grizzles, who is this guy. we invite you here after we wash your team out tommorrow. come hunting , fishing, see real mountains. that take a real man to climb. or woman. see our big skys. then say we cant compete. in your leage. go grizzzzzzzzzz.