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About VU

  • Founded in 1842 by the Friars of the Order of St. Augustine, Villanova University is a co-educational Roman Catholic institution that welcomes students of all faiths.
  • The University consists of four main colleges (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Villanova School of Business, College of Engineering and College of Nursing) and a School of Law.
  • The oldest and largest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Villanova has had two Rhodes Scholars and is one of 262 institutions—and one of 18 Catholic colleges and universities—in the nation to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the prestigious national liberal arts honors society.
  • Read more about Villanova University's Profile!

Did you know?

  • For nearly two decades, Villanova University has been ranked #1 by  U.S. News and World Report in the Best Universities-Masters category in the northern region.
  • Villanova University has been awarded the CampusTours Four Star Tour Award for our comprehensive Virtual Tour.
  • Newly renovated Falvey Library houses more than 800,000 volumes and over a million microform items.
  • Every fall, Villanova hosts the largest student-organized Special Olympics Festival in the world!!
  • Villanova University has been designated an arboretum with two, one mile self-guided walking tours on main campus.
  • Villanova University is located 12 miles or 20 kilometers west of Philadelphia. The campus sits on 254 acres in the heart of Philadelphia's suburban Main Line, and contains over 60 buildings (including 26 residence halls).

Our Students

  • Villanova's fulltime undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2007 is 6,335 and comes from 49 states, plus Puerto Rico and 60 foreign countries.
  • 99% of our accepted first year applicants ranked in the top 30% of their high school class, and the middle 50% range for the SAT is 1320-1420/1600.
  • Average class size is 22 students.
  • 97.4% of those who applied for need-based financial aid were eligible to receive some type of assistance.
  • 84% of those eligible for need-based assistance received Villanova Grants.
  • $12 million was awarded in Villanova Grants with an average award amount of over $18,000.
  • In 2006-2007, Villanova University offered more than $6.2 million in merit-based academic scholarships to prospective freshmen. Villanova also offered $31 million in need-based financial aid to prospective first-year students through the Villanova Grant Program. This figure does not include federal, state, and/or private assistance, which our students also receive.

Our Faculty

  • Villanova has 545 fulltime faculty members, 90% of whom hold the highest degree in their field.
  • The student/faculty ratio is 13:1.

Our Colleges

  • The College of Nursing received its designation as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing (NLN).
  • In the most recent US News and World Report rankings, VU's College of Engineering ranked 9th in category, Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.
  • The Villanova School of Business (VSB) is ranked as the #12 undergraduate business school in the nation by Business Week.
  • The Villanova School of Business Executive MBA program is ranked #26 among US-based executive MBA programs by Financial Times.
  • Villanova and its programs have received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, AACSB International, the American Chemical Society, the American Bar Association, the Association of American Law Schools, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nurse Examiners,  the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the National Catholic Education Association, and the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board.

Athletics

  • Villanova supports 22 sports (10 men's & 12 women's) affiliated with the Big East Conference at the Division I level (football is Division I-AA and competes in the Atlantic-10).
  • School colors are Navy Blue and White, and the Mascot is the Wildcat.
  • Villanova Stadium holds 11,800 fans.
  • The Pavilion holds 6500 fans.
  • Students may choose to study abroad for a summer, a semester, or a year; and take part in any of more than 130 registered student organizations.

Villanova University Crest

  • The crest of Villanova University is an adaptation of the historic seal of the Order of St. Augustine.
  • The motto of the University is 'Veritas, Unitas, Caritas' or 'Truth, Unity, and Charity'. These are the special virtues to which the University aspires and seeks to incorporate through every endeavor.

Technology at Villanova

  • Villanova is one of the nation's most wired campuses with excellent technological resources. Many students receive laptop computers as part of their tuition and these are used in classrooms designed for individual computer ports or wireless connectivity.

Alumni

  • Villanova's 90,000+ living alumni maintain close ties with the University through a large network of alumni societies and chapters throughout the US and abroad.