News flash March 30, 2025: Villanova’s struggling basketball team is getting a new coach! Kevin Willard will leave the University of Maryland to join Villanova this year.

Augustinian heritage

One of only two Augustinian institutions in the U.S., Villanova’s motto is “Veritas, Unitas, Caritas.” They believe in truth through education, community, and charity. Villanova literally translates to “new home.” St. Augustine preached, “Love is the criterion for all that you do,” and this ethos leads to respectful dialogue among community members. In addition, Villanova houses the largest community of Catholic priests, who teach and interact with students of all religious persuasions. 

Community and campus life

Villanova says that all community members, from freshmen to professors to the president, have different roles but the same status. It’s the unity in community. There are 300 student clubs and organizations as well as the notable DI athletics. Students perform 250,000 hours of service every year, and the school hosts the largest Special Olympics event in the country.

Academic structure

Four schools comprise Villanova University: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, School of Business, and College of Nursing. The largest, Liberal Arts and Sciences, takes a cohort of 1200 first-years; Business takes 400, Engineering 275, and Nursing only 100. Nursing is direct-admit, and the rigorous curriculum for nurses is firmly set. In addition to the undergraduate schools, Villanova has the law school and the College of Professional Studies.

Villanova has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, and classes run on average about 22 students.

Campus and its expansion

Students live in housing called the Commons, and 85% live on campus. Villanova guarantees housing for three years. The 260-acre suburban campus is only 12 miles west of Center City Philadelphia.

With the purchase of the former Cabrini University campus, in 2026 Villanova will add 115 acres, more facilities and housing, and increased class sizes. Sophomore housing will be on the Cabrini campus, which is undergoing a $75 million renovation. Psychology and elementary education will also call Cabrini home. The two campuses will be connected by a 5-minute shuttle ride.

Admissions trends

This year, Villanova received 26,200 applications for an incoming freshman class that increased from 1720 to 1770 for 2025; for 2026, they target 1970, so next year will be a good year to apply.

Villanova is test optional for the foreseeable future. This year 56% applied without scores and 55% of the admitted class did not have test scores. What matters most is what you’ve done in the classroom. 

Program-specific applications

Applying to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, you can declare your major as “exploratory” in either the arts or sciences. It’s hard to get into the business school without calculus, and engineering requires physics and at least pre-calculus. It’s not too hard to move between CALS and engineering, but don’t count on declaring your major as English and then internally transferring to business. Nursing is direct admit, with a cohort of only 108 (though they’re shooting for 125). The nursing curriculum is set and has little room for flexibility.

Early Decision gives you the best chance of admission, and being a legacy in that pool is a plus.

Who’s a good fit for Villanova?

You could be a good fit for Villanova if you are active and engaged in high school. Go-getters continue to succeed here, and graduates realize an average $90K salary.