


Villanova University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual degree program.
Relevant program-specific recognition includes AACSB accreditation for business, ABET accreditation for specified engineering programs, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation for eligible nursing programs, and American Bar Association approval of the law school. Because recognition can attach to particular degrees rather than an entire college, students pursuing a licensed profession should verify the status of their exact program and the requirements of the state where they intend to practice.
Institutional accreditation is relevant to federal student-aid eligibility. It does not, by itself, guarantee that another institution will accept a course for transfer or that a graduate will meet every professional licensing requirement.
First-year admission to Villanova is selective and is not open admission. Applicants generally submit an application, secondary-school records, recommendations, and the writing materials required for their application route. The university evaluates academic preparation in the context of the student's school and intended program.
Reported admissions criteria include a secondary-school record, GPA, completion of a college-preparatory curriculum, and recommendations. Class rank may be considered when available but is not required. Villanova's test-optional approach means applicants should check the policy for their entry year rather than assume an SAT or ACT score is mandatory. Among enrolled first-time students who submitted scores in the reported cohort, the median SAT composite was 1420 and the median ACT composite was 33; these figures describe score submitters, not an admission cutoff.
In the reported admissions cycle, Villanova admitted 6,274 of 23,256 first-year applicants, or about 27%. That rate describes one applicant pool and does not predict an individual decision. Villanova offers early and regular application options, including binding early-decision routes; applicants should verify current deadlines and understand a binding commitment before selecting one. International applicants should also review English-proficiency testing and any applicable exemption rules. Nursing and other specialized programs may have additional expectations.
Villanova's reported standard undergraduate application fee is $80. An application fee pays for review; it is separate from tuition and any enrollment deposit.
Applicants with financial need can request an application-fee waiver through an eligible application or counselor-supported process. Because waiver procedures can differ by applicant category and application platform, request the waiver before submitting and paying: a later request should not be assumed to produce a refund. Transfer, graduate, professional, and continuing-education applicants should check the fee displayed for their particular application rather than assume that the first-year undergraduate charge applies.
Villanova has a Naval ROTC unit on campus. Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC are available through arrangements with cooperating institutions rather than separate Villanova-based units for those branches.
Students considering ROTC should confirm where their branch's classes, physical training, and other activities meet before building a course schedule. Scholarship selection and participation requirements differ by branch; some activities can also create a post-graduation military service obligation. An ROTC scholarship is not automatic with admission to Villanova or enrollment in an ROTC course.
Villanova accepts transfer applications for fall and spring entry. Transfer admission and transfer-credit acceptance are separate decisions: a student can be admitted without every previous course fulfilling a Villanova degree requirement.
Applicants should expect to provide transcripts from each college attended and any secondary-school record required for their circumstances. The university evaluates prior coursework against its own curriculum, including major and general-education requirements. Reported credit policies include consideration of CLEP examinations and American Council on Education recommendations, but eligibility for a particular credit award or degree requirement requires an individual review.
Course availability and sequencing matter especially for programs such as engineering and nursing. Before enrolling, a prospective transfer student should request the official credit evaluation, identify which courses apply to the intended major, and check the current application deadline and any college-specific restrictions. Villanova reported 106 entering degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate transfers in the cited enrollment period, substantially fewer than its first-time entrants.
Villanova offers international study options that can include semester programs and shorter faculty-led experiences. Available destinations and formats vary by academic year, major, and program approval.
Students should work with Villanova's study-abroad advisers and their academic departments before committing to a program. Key questions are whether a course will satisfy a specific degree requirement, whether the program is run by Villanova or an approved partner, and how tuition, housing, scholarships, and other aid will apply. Nursing, engineering, and other tightly sequenced majors may need to plan earlier to avoid delaying required courses.
28% of admitted students enrolled (1,740 of 6,274)
Regular application deadline
January 15Application fee
$80Early Decision
Yes, deadline November 1Early Action
Yes, deadline November 1Median composite SAT score
1420Median composite ACT score
33Percent of students submitting ACT scores
9%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
19%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
RequiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
YesApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesPossible transfer
Fall, SpringData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.