Villanova University
Villanova University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Villanova University Featured Rankings
- #1 Christian Colleges in Pennsylvania 2026
- #2 Best Online Associate Degree Programs in Pennsylvania
- #3 Best Online MBAs Pennsylvania
- #4 Pennsylvania's Best Online Colleges 2026
- #5 Pennsylvania's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #6 Online Master's in Public Administration
- #7 Research Universities in Pennsylvania
- #8 Private Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #8 Grad Schools in Pennsylvania 2026
- #10 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #18 Best Christian Colleges 2026
- #24 The Most Influential Colleges in Track & Field Today
- #38 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs
About Villanova University
Featured Alumnus
Sean M. Carroll ranks among our Top Influential Physicists Today.
According to Wikipedia, Villanova University is a private Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded by the Augustinians 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 .
Villanova University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23,127 | 27% | 95% | 93% | 1452 | 33 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Villanova University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $70,826 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $21,459 |
| 30K - 48K | $15,356 |
| 48K - 75K | $25,787 |
| 75K - 110K | $31,719 |
| 110K+ | $57,135 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Villanova University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Villanova University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $115,382 a year, and 96% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Villanova University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 11,176 | 7,487 | 3,689 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Villanova University?
Villanova University is located at 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-1699.
How Safe is Villanova University?
Relative to its enrollment, Villanova University has a violent crime rate of 0.04% and a property crime rate of 0.06%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft).
What Is Villanova University Known For?
Villanova University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Nursing
- Philosophy
- Business
- Physics
- Law
- History
- Communications
- Literature
- Chemistry
- Political Science
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Education
- Medical
- Economics
- Sociology
- Biology
- Psychology
Villanova University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Villanova University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Villanova University ranks #93 in the U.S. and #203 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesVillanova University ranks #103 in the U.S. and #326 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesVillanova University ranks #143 in the U.S. and #418 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesVillanova University ranks #150 in the U.S. and #589 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesVillanova University ranks #155 in the U.S. and #447 worldwide for influence in Law.
Villanova University ranks #158 in the U.S. and #439 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesVillanova University ranks #175 in the U.S. and #604 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesVillanova University ranks #175 in the U.S. and #494 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesVillanova University ranks #197 in the U.S. and #931 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesVillanova University ranks #198 in the U.S. and #765 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesVillanova University ranks #198 in the U.S. and #1111 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesVillanova University ranks #217 in the U.S. and #810 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesVillanova University ranks #218 in the U.S. and #868 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesVillanova University ranks #220 in the U.S. and #908 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesVillanova University ranks #234 in the U.S. and #833 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesVillanova University ranks #241 in the U.S. and #1212 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesVillanova University ranks #274 in the U.S. and #984 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesVillanova University ranks #298 in the U.S. and #1199 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesVillanova University ranks #324 in the U.S. and #797 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesWho Are Villanova University's Most Influential Alumni?
Villanova University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Nursing, Criminal Justice, and Philosophy. Here are some of Villanova University's most famous alumni:
- John D. Caputo
- An American philosopher.
- Shaun Gallagher
- An American philosopher.
- Anthony Zinni
- An American Marine Corps general.
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
- A French philosopher, Jesuit priest, and paleontologist.
- John O'Connor
- An American Cardinal, Archbishop of New York.
- Chad Wolf
- An American government official.
- Darrell Schweitzer
- An American writer, editor, and critic .
- Edward Guinan
- An American scientist.
- Benjamin Wiker
- A Roman Catholic ethicist.
- Jeanne Marie Laskas
- An American writer and academic.
- James K. A. Smith
- A Canadian theologian.
- Steve Chen
- An American computer engineer.
Who Are Villanova University's Most Influential Faculty?
Villanova University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Nursing, Criminal Justice, and Philosophy. Here are some of Villanova University's most famous faculty:
