Glimpse Of Villanova

The University

Founded in 1842 by the friars of the Order of St. Augustine, Villanova is a comprehensive Roman Catholic institution that welcomes students of all faiths. The University offers an extensive variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, engineering, law, liberal arts, nursing and the sciences.

A Solid Academic Reputation

The oldest and largest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Villanova is one of 262 institutions-and one of 18 Catholic colleges or universities-in the nation to have a chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa, the prestigious liberal arts honor society. For more than a decade, Villanova University has been ranked #1 by US News and World Report in the Best Universities-Master's category in the northern region.

The Student Body

Villanova enrolls more than 10,000 students annually in undergraduate and graduate programs. This academically talented and diverse group comes from 49 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and more than 40 foreign countries.

The Faculty

Villanova's 545 full-time faculty members, 90 percent of whom hold the highest degree in their field, teach classes that average 22 students. The undergraduate student: faculty ratio is 13:1.

The Campus

Located in a suburban community 12 miles (or 20 kilometers) west of Philadelphia, the picturesque 254-acre campus features more than 60 buildings, including a library with more than 800,000 volumes, an 11,800 seat stadium, state of the art academic facilities, and 26 residence halls.

The Experience

Villanova students may choose to study abroad for a summer, semester, or year; compete on one of 11 men's or 13 women's NCAA Division I level (football is Division IAA) sports teams, immerse themselves in Campus Ministry, and take part in any of more than 130 campus organizations.

Financial Assistance

In 2006-2007, Villanova offered more than $7.49 million in merit-based academic scholarships to first year undergraduate students. Villanova also offered more than $31 million in need-based financial assistance to prospective freshmen through the Villanova grant program.

Accreditation

Villanova and its programs have received accreditation through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the AACSB International, the American Chemical Society, the American Bar Association, the Association of American Law Schools, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nurse Examiners, the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Computing Accreditation Commission and the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the National Catholic Education Association, and the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board. Villanova is a member in good standing of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.