Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 27.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 89/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Villanova scores an 89 overall (Strong Value) at a private Catholic university outside Philadelphia with 6,938 undergraduates. The 4.8-year payback period is fast for a private school at this price point - average 6-year earnings land at $64,700. The completion rate of 91.9% is high by any measure. Finance and Financial Management is the largest high-yield program (253 graduates), followed by Registered Nursing (195 graduates) and Communication and Media Studies (167 graduates). The ROI story diverges sharply by major: finance and engineering graduates leave with B+ grades and sub-0.40 debt-to-earnings ratios, while humanities majors face ratios climbing to 0.97 (History) and 0.98 (Liberal Arts). Villanova's location in the Philadelphia corridor gives business and nursing graduates access to a dense employer market. The school's Catholic Augustinian identity shapes campus culture and student support infrastructure. For students entering high-earning majors, Villanova delivers.
The median graduate earns $100,423 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Villanova University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $67,776/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $67,776/yr |
| Average net price | $43,756/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $175,024 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $100,423 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $64,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,874 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $274 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,938 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $67,776/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $43,756/year, or roughly $175,024 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $17,823/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $58,741/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,874, which works out to about $274 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($64,700) and comes to 0.40, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,823 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,496 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,923 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,389 |
| $110,001+ | $58,741 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $17,823 per year. That is meaningfully below the $43,756 average net price - Villanova's aid stack for low-income students is real. But $17,823 annually still totals roughly $71,000 over four years, which is a significant commitment on limited household income. Against average 6-year earnings of $64,700, a low-income student in a high-ROI major (nursing, finance, engineering) can make the math work. A student in a lower-earning major (Liberal Arts at $25,436 median 1-year earnings) faces a much harder equation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pay $16,496 - slightly less than the lowest bracket, reflecting deep aid for lower-middle-income families. The 48,001-75,000 bracket jumps to $20,923, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs sharply to $33,389. That is a steep slope: a family earning $80,000 pays twice what a family earning $40,000 pays. Middle-income families in the upper half of this range should run the net price calculator carefully before assuming Villanova is affordable.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $58,741 per year - close to full sticker minus room and board. Over four years that approaches $235,000 all-in. Against median 10-year earnings of $100,423, high earners in competitive majors will see positive lifetime ROI, but the payback period stretches. High-income families sending students into low-earning majors like Liberal Arts ($53,181 median 4-year earnings) are paying a premium that the earnings data cannot support without graduate school in the picture.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Villanova University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $131,996 | B+ |
| Registered Nursing | $99,540 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $81,497 | C+ |
| International Relations | $83,179 | C |
| Economics | $100,288 | B |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $109,642 | B |
| Biology | $73,933 | D |
| Accounting | $120,207 | B+ |
| Psychology | $73,684 | C |
| Marketing | $102,222 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is Villanova's biggest earner by graduate count (253) and by dollar output. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.319 and an ROI grade of B+ confirm that the debt load ($26,197 median) is modest against the earnings trajectory. For students confident they want finance, this program consistently delivers.
Registered Nursing
With 195 graduates, Registered Nursing is Villanova's largest single program and its clearest earnings anchor for non-business students. Median earnings reach $86,241 at one year - nurses enter the workforce earning immediately, unlike majors that require graduate school for payoff. At $99,540 by year four, the trajectory reflects experienced RN and advanced practice opportunities. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.313 (ROI grade B+) and $27,000 median debt indicate graduates are borrowing at the institutional limit but earning enough to service it without distress. Philadelphia-area hospital systems and the broader Mid-Atlantic health sector create strong demand.
Computer and Information Sciences
Thirty-two Computer and Information Sciences graduates earned a median $83,455 at one year and $130,585 at four years - both figures reflect the strong premium that software roles command nationally and the particular pull of the New York/Philadelphia tech corridor for Villanova graduates. The 0.314 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+) indicates the $26,225 median debt is well-supported by earnings. This is a small but high-performing pipeline: 32 graduates means cohort-level variance is real, but the salary signal is consistent.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering produces 73 graduates at Villanova - the largest engineering cohort after Computer Engineering. Median earnings start at $80,962 and reach $97,556 at four years. These figures track the Mid-Atlantic manufacturing, defense, and infrastructure sectors that draw Villanova engineers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.321 (ROI grade B+) is clean. The gap between 1-year and 4-year earnings is modest compared to CS, suggesting ME graduates enter the workforce in roles with more defined salary bands and less explosive upside - still a strong, stable return.
Accounting
Villanova's accounting program sends 95 graduates a year into public accounting, corporate finance, and audit roles. Median 1-year earnings of $77,966 and 4-year earnings of $120,207 reflect the standard CPA-track trajectory: starting salaries at Big Four and regional firms, then CPA licensure and advancement. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.332 (ROI grade B+) is controlled. Accounting is among the most predictable ROI pathways at Villanova - the career arc is well-defined, the regional demand for accountants is consistent, and the school's Catholic professional network adds placement use.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 91.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 93.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 91.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 93.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Villanova University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 27.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 710-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 685-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 32-34 |
| Enrollment | 6,938 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 12.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,825 |
Villanova admits 27% of applicants - selective but not hyper-selective. The mid-range ACT is 32-34; SAT Math 710-770, SAT Reading 685-740. Students below the 25th percentile on either test face longer odds. Demonstrated interest and fit with the Augustinian mission tend to matter here. The admissions pool leans heavily toward students with professional or pre-health trajectories.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Villanova's completion rate is 91.9%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villanova University (this school) | 89 | $43,756 | $100,423 |
| Wake Forest University | 88 | $28,719 | $78,158 |
| Tufts University | 86 | $39,998 | $83,214 |
| Case Western Reserve University | 85 | $41,190 | $87,989 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Students who thrive here typically arrive with ACT 32-34 or SAT 700-770 Math, 685-740 Reading, and a clear major in mind. Nursing, finance, and engineering account for most of the school's high-ROI outcomes. With only 12% Pell recipients and a $43,756 average net price, this is a school where middle-to-upper-income families pay a material amount. The 91.9% completion rate suggests students who enroll are well-matched. Liberal arts and psychology majors should enter with eyes open: 1-year median earnings in those fields fall below $40,000.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Villanova University pays off. You'd pay about $43,756 a year after aid ($175,024 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $100,423 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 91.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,874 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $64,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Villanova University: Common Questions
Is Villanova University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Villanova University pays off. It scores 89/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $43,756 a year after aid ($175,024 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $100,423 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.8 years to earn back.
How much does Villanova University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $43,756 a year, or roughly $175,024 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Villanova University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $100,423 ten years after enrolling, roughly $58,623 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Villanova University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.8 years for Villanova University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Villanova University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,874, against average earnings of $64,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Villanova University?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.