Villanova vs. SMU

Should I go to Villanova University or Southern Methodist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Villanova or SMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Villanova University vs. Southern Methodist University comparison
Villanova University Southern Methodist University College 3 College 4
Villanova University Southern Methodist University
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Overview

Villanova SMU
Location Villanova, PA Dallas, TX
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 10,383 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #66 #67
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website villanova.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Villanova SMU
Tuition (In State) $60,768 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $60,768 $55,012
Room & Board $16,087 $17,750
Avg Net Price $34,837 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $42,834 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 73%

Admission

Villanova SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 23,835 16,150
Admitted 5,576 8,439
Acceptance Rate 23.4% 52.3%
Enrolled % 31.9% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.87 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 32/34 31/34
SAT Range 1378/1500 1370/1510
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Villanova SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Villanova SMU
Graduation Rate 90% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,100 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,497 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $273 $222

Diversity

Villanova SMU
% Men 46% 50%
% Women 54% 50%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 65%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 2% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Villanova SMU
% In-State 18% 38%
% Out-of-State 78% 58%

Campus

Villanova SMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Methodist University is larger than than Villanova based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 10,383 students)

Villanova vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Villanova or SMU?

  • Villanova University is 10.5% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($60,768.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.5% higher at Villanova than Southern Methodist University ($60,768.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Villanova University than SMU ($34,837 vs. $45,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 10.3% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($16,087 vs. $17,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Villanova University (73% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 21.2% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($42,834 vs. $35,344)

Villanova vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Villanova or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Villanova .

  • The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 4 points higher than at Villanova (1326)
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at SMU (30)
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at SMU (3.68)
  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Villanova (23.4%)

Villanova vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Villanova or SMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMU and Villanova.

  • The graduation rate at Villanova is higher than Southern Methodist University (90% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn on average $12,100 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($85,100 vs. $73,000)
  • Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $4,997 lower median federal student loan debt than Villanova graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,497)
  • SMU graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Villanova graduates. ($222 vs. $273)
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/