Villanova University is a private university situated in a suburb northwest of Philadelphia called Radnor Township. It is named after Saint Thomas of Villanova, who was a Spanish friar in the 16th century. Villanova is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania and is directly connected to the Order of Saint Augustine. It has an undergraduate enrolment of 7111 students, and is ranked by U.S. News as the #1 university in the North Region of the United States.

History

Two Augustinian friars from Philadelphia’s Saint Augustine’s Church bought the “Belle Air” estate in Radnor Township in October of 1841. They planned on building a school on the 200 acre land. The Augustinian College of Villanova was opened in 1842, but was forced to close in 1845 because of the Philadelphia Bible Riots, which caused financial problems for the Augustinians. It reopened in 1846, but was forced to close again in 1857 because of the demand for priests in Philadelphia. It stayed closed throughout the Civil War but eventually reopened again in September of 1865. The late 1890s brought more classrooms, recreational facilities, and dormitories to Villanova as the school attempted to become an institution that would grade among the best in the country. In 1953 the Nursing School opened, and women began attending Villanova full-time. Villanova also achieved university status in 1953. During the 1970s and 1980s, Villanova continued to work to become a nationally recognized university, which resulted in an improvement in quality of both faculty and students.

Programs

The Villanova School of Law is ranked by U.S. News at the 98th best Law School in the United States. The school offers criminal prosecution externships with district attorneys in Philadelphia and judicial externships with Philadelphia-area judges. The academic program at Villanova Law School provides students the ability to master state and federal statutory and administrative regimes while developing a comprehensive understanding of common law tradition. Law at Villanova prepares students to flourish and succeed in the constantly changing world of modern law practice. The school offers give degree programs: J.D., J.D./LL.M. in Taxation, J.D./M.B.A., J.D./LL.M. International Studies, and the J.D./M.P.A. program. The most popular major at Villanova is business (31% of graduates were enrolled in the business program). The Villanova School of Business is a premier educational institution, known for its academic rigor, hands-on learning opportunities, innovation, and applied education. All these factors prepare students to become outstanding global citizens and leaders in the complex, constantly changing, and fast-paced world of business. The School offers undergraduate degree programs in business administration and accountancy with majors in finance, economics, management, marketing, and management information systems. The School also offers four masters programs, a joint J.D./M.B.A. degree, and a Post-M.B.A. certificate. Bloomberg Businessweek ranks Villanova Business School as the 15th best undergraduate program in the country, with the overall academic quality coming in at 2nd overall.

Pros & Cons

U.S. News ranks Villanova as the #1 university in the North Region of the United States. It is located just 12 miles from Philadelphia, which means day or night trips into the city are certainly possible. Philadelphia is a vibrant city with plenty of entertainment and dining options. Villanova has a thriving Greek community, and around 15% of students take part in Greek life. Villanova also has an excellent basketball program, which is constantly involved in the March Madness tournament. These games can be exciting to watch and really bring students together to show their school spirit. It is expensive to attend, however, as tuition and residence charges come in at over $52 000 a year. The School is also geared towards its Engineering and Business programs, which may leave students enrolled in Arts feeling unappreciated.