Villanova vs. WCU

Deciding between Villanova University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania? 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.

Villanova University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • WCU West Chester, PA
  • Setting
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • WCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Villanova 10,041
  • WCU 17,171
  • Type
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Villanova #67
  • WCU #505
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • WCU -
  • Status
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Villanova
  • WCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Villanova $67,776
  • WCU $10,775
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Villanova $67,776
  • WCU $22,599
  • Room & Board
  • Villanova $17,694
  • WCU $14,828
  • Average Net Price
  • Villanova $37,201
  • WCU $22,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Villanova $47,609
  • WCU $5,709
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Villanova 48%
  • WCU 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Villanova 23,256
  • WCU 17,193
  • Admitted
  • Villanova 6,274
  • WCU 13,479
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Villanova 27%
  • WCU 78.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • WCU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Villanova 1450
  • WCU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Villanova 33
  • WCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Villanova 3.87
  • WCU 3.43
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Villanova A
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • WCU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Villanova High
  • WCU
  • ACT Range
  • Villanova 32/34
  • WCU 24/28
  • SAT Range
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • WCU 1100/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Villanova Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027
  • WCU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Villanova 10:1
  • WCU 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • WCU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Villanova 90%
  • WCU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Villanova $85,100
  • WCU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Villanova 90%
  • WCU 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Villanova $26,497
  • WCU $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Villanova $273
  • WCU $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Villanova 46%
  • WCU 40%
  • % Women
  • Villanova 54%
  • WCU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Villanova Low
  • WCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Villanova No
  • WCU No
  • % White
  • Villanova 74%
  • WCU 78%
  • % Asian
  • Villanova 7%
  • WCU 2%
  • % Black
  • Villanova 5%
  • WCU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Villanova 8%
  • WCU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Villanova 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Villanova 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Villanova 2%
  • WCU 3%
  • % International
  • Villanova 2%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Villanova 1%
  • WCU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Villanova 21%
  • WCU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Villanova 77%
  • WCU 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Villanova University in Villanova, PA with West Chester University of Pennsylvania in West Chester, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 10,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Villanova University is located in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Villanova University 10:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Villanova vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Villanova or WCU? 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Villanova ($22,546 vs. $37,201).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 16.2% lower than at Villanova University ($14,828 vs. $17,694).
  • Villanova University is 529% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $57,001 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $10,775.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 199.9% higher at Villanova than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $45,177 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $22,599.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than at Villanova University (73% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 733.9% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($47,609 vs. $5,709).

Villanova vs. WCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Villanova or WCU? 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 WCU and Villanova.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 260 points higher than at WCU (1190).
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 26 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Villanova University 1395/1510; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Villanova University 32/34; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Villanova - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at WCU (3.43).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Villanova (27%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.7% at Villanova vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Villanova vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Villanova and WCU? 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania's (68%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $36,100 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $2,997 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($242 vs. $273).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 75%)

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.