SCU vs. Villanova

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Villanova University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Clara University
Villanova University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SCU Yes
  • Villanova Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SCU No
  • Villanova No
  • Meal Plan
  • SCU Yes
  • Villanova Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SCU No
  • Villanova Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • SCU Yes
  • Villanova No

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Villanova University in Villanova, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Villanova University is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (10,041 students vs. 9,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Villanova University is in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Villanova University 10:1.

SCU vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or Villanova? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Villanova University than SCU ($37,201 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 11.1% lower than at Santa Clara University ($17,694 vs. $19,893).
  • Villanova University is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $6,483 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Villanova than at Santa Clara University (about $6,483 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Villanova University (71% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 67.8% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($47,609 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or Villanova? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Villanova and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 30 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at SCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Villanova (27%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

SCU vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and Villanova? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $81,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $4,997 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($222 vs. $273).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.