Villanova University facts for kids
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| Latin: Universitas Villanovana | |
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Former names
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Saint Augustine's Academy (1811–) Augustinian College of Villanova (1842–1953) |
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| Motto | Veritas, Unitas, Caritas (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Truth, Unity, Love |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | 1842 |
| Founder | Order of Saint Augustine |
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Religious affiliation
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Catholic (Augustinian) |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $1.19 billion (2023) |
| President | Peter M. Donohue |
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Academic staff
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545 |
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Administrative staff
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2,000 |
| Students | 9,800 (spring 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 6,791 |
| Postgraduates | 3,108 |
| Location |
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U.S.
40°02′16″N 75°20′15″W / 40.03771°N 75.33755°W |
| Campus | Suburban, 408 acres (165 ha) |
| Colors | Blue and white |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – Big East, Big 5, CAA |
| Mascot | Will D. Cat (current) Count Villan (former) |
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Villanova University is a private Catholic university in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It was started by a group of Catholic priests called the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842. The university is named after Saint Thomas of Villanova. It is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania.
Villanova's history goes back to the old Saint Augustine's Church in Philadelphia. The Augustinian priests started this church in 1796. They also opened a school called Saint Augustine's Academy in 1811. Today, Villanova is known for its high level of research.
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History of Villanova University
In October 1841, two Augustinian priests bought 200 acres of land. They wanted to start a school there. This land was known as "Belle Air." The school opened in 1842 and was called the "Augustinian College of Villanova."
However, the college faced money problems in 1844. This was because Saint Augustine's Church in Philadelphia was burned down. So, the college had to close in February 1845. It reopened in 1846 and its first students graduated in 1847. In 1848, the state of Pennsylvania allowed the school to give out degrees.
The school closed again in 1857 due to a lack of staff and money problems. It stayed closed during the American Civil War. During this time, it was used as a military hospital. Villanova reopened in September 1865 and has been open ever since.
For many years, only men attended Villanova. In 1918, women began taking evening classes. These were mostly nuns who wanted to become teachers. In 1938, a woman who was not a nun earned a degree from Villanova. In 1953, the nursing school opened, and women started attending full-time. By 1968, Villanova University became fully open to both men and women.
During World War II, Villanova helped train Navy officers. It was one of many colleges that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program. Many US Naval Admirals and Marine Corps Generals have graduated from Villanova.
After World War II, Villanova grew a lot. Many returning soldiers enrolled, and the number of teachers quadrupled. New buildings were built. In 1953, the College of Nursing and the School of Law were started. On November 18, 1953, the college officially became Villanova University.
Recently, in 2023, Villanova University announced that Cabrini University would join it. Cabrini University was facing financial challenges.
Exploring the Campus
Villanova University is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It is about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Philadelphia. The campus covers 254 acres (1.03 km2) of land. It has about 1,500 trees.
The campus has three main areas: Main, West, and South.
Main Campus Highlights
The most famous building on campus is St. Thomas of Villanova Church. Its two tall spires are the highest structures at the university. Construction of the church began in 1883 and finished in 1887.
Alumni Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus. It was built in 1848. It was used as a military hospital during wars. It also helped influenza patients after World War I.
St. Mary's Hall was built in 1962. It has many rooms and long hallways. Falvey Library is the main library on campus. It holds over 1 million books and many magazines. It also has television production studios.
Academics and Learning
Villanova University is known for its research. In 2018, it spent $20.7 million on research and development. This ranked it 267th in the nation.
University Rankings
In 2016, Villanova was classified as a "Doctoral University: High Research Activity." This means it offers many doctoral programs. Because of this, U.S. News & World Report started including Villanova in its "National Universities" rankings. Before this, Villanova was ranked in a different category.
For over ten years, Villanova was ranked No. 1 in the "Best Masters Universities" category for the Northern Region. This ranking was for schools with undergraduate and master's programs. In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Villanova as tied for the 51st best National University in the U.S.
The Villanova School of Business was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2016. However, this ranking caused some debate. As a result, Bloomberg no longer ranks undergraduate business schools.
The Villanova University School of Law was ranked tied for 65th among U.S. law schools in 2019. The law school had some issues in 2011. It was found that staff had reported incorrect student test scores. The university quickly fixed the problem.
How to Apply to Villanova
Getting into Villanova is considered "most selective." This means it is hard to get in. The university offers three ways to apply:
- Early Decision (if you are sure you want to go there)
- Early Action
- Regular Decision
For Fall 2023, Villanova received 23,721 applications from high school students. Only 4,870 students were accepted, which is about 21%. The average GPA for accepted students was between 4.20 and 4.58. Their SAT scores were usually between 1450 and 1520. Their ACT scores were between 33 and 35.
Student Life at Villanova
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 72% |
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| Hispanic | 9% |
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| Asian | 6% |
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| Black | 5% |
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| Other | 4% |
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| Foreign national | 2% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 10% |
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| Affluent | 90% |
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Villanova has many student clubs and groups. These include sports clubs, cultural groups, and Greek-letter organizations. Villanova students also do a lot of charity work. They help with the largest student-run Special Olympics event in the world.
Giving Back to the Community
As a Catholic Augustinian school, Villanova has an active Campus Ministry. This group helps students get involved in service.
The annual Special Olympics Fall Festival at Villanova is a huge event. It is the biggest student-run Special Olympics in the world. More than 1,000 athletes and 400 coaches come from all over Pennsylvania. Students volunteer for months to plan this festival.
Villanova University also hosts an event called NOVAdance. This is a year-long fundraising effort. It ends with a 12-hour dance marathon in the spring. Money raised goes to the Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation. This foundation helps kids with cancer.
Villanova students are also very involved with Habitat for Humanity. In 2004, Villanova had more students helping with Habitat for Humanity than any other U.S. university.
The School of Engineering has a student group called Engineers Without Borders. This group helps improve living conditions in communities around the world. Their first project was building a playground in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. They also built a water treatment system in Thailand.
The Blue Key Society is a group of about 200 student volunteers. They give tours of the campus to visitors.
Student Government and Organizations
The Student Government Association (SGA) was started in 1925. It helps run student activities and represents student voices. It has three parts: the Executive Branch, the Senate, and the Judicial Council.
About 30% of Villanova students are part of fraternities or sororities. There are eleven fraternities and twelve sororities. There is also one service fraternity. There are no fraternity or sorority houses on campus.
Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS)
Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) is a student-run ambulance service. It helps the campus community. More than 40 student volunteers work for VEMS. Most of them are certified as Emergency Medical Technicians. They volunteer over 25,000 hours each year. Villanova is one of the few colleges that provides its own EMS services.
Campus Publications and Media
The Villanovan is the official student newspaper. It has been around since 1916. It usually publishes 12 issues each semester.
The Belle Air Yearbook is the university's official yearbook. Students have been making it since 1922. It has won many awards over the years.
WVTV is the student-run campus television station. It started in 1999. The station produces news, event coverage, and other shows for the Villanova community.
WXVU is the student-operated FM radio station. It broadcasts at 89.1 megahertz. You can hear it about 8 miles (13 km) around campus. It also streams online. The station plays music, news, sports, and other programs.
POLIS Literary Magazine is a student publication. It is printed once a semester. It features writing and artwork by Villanova students and professors.
Since 1946, the NROTC unit at Villanova has trained many military leaders. It has produced 25 Admirals and Generals for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. At one point, both the commanders of U.S. Naval Forces Atlantic and Pacific were Villanova NROTC graduates.
Student Performing Arts
Villanova University does not have a formal music department. However, many students are involved in performing arts groups. Nearly 10% of the student body participates in music groups.
The Villanova Band is the largest and oldest music group. It has over 100 members. It includes the Concert Band, Scramble Band, Pep Band, and Jazz Ensemble. They perform at concerts, football games, and basketball games.
The Pastoral Musicians are the second-largest music group. They have about 60 singers and 35 musicians. They perform various styles of Catholic music.
The Villanova Singers are the men's chorus. They were founded in 1953. They sing many different types of music. A smaller group within the Singers is called the Spires. Famous alumni like Jim Croce and Tim Hauser were part of the Spires.
The Villanova Voices are the women's chorus. They are the oldest women's organization at the university. They started in 1960. Their a cappella group is called the Haveners.
Villanova Athletics
Villanova University sports teams are called the Wildcats. They compete in NCAA Division I. Most teams play in the Big East Conference. The football and rowing teams play in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. Women's sports include basketball, field hockey, and soccer.
The Wildcats are also part of the Philadelphia Big 5. This is a group of traditional basketball rivals in Philadelphia. Their biggest rival is Saint Joseph's University. Games between them are called the "Holy War".
Villanova athletes have a high graduation rate. In 2020, Villanova had a 97 percent graduation success rate for its athletes. Many of its sports programs had a perfect 100 percent graduation rate.
Men's Basketball Success
The men's basketball team has won the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament three times.
In 1985, they won their first NCAA Championship. They beat Georgetown, who was favored to win. This win is often called one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history.
In 2016, the Wildcats won again. They defeated North Carolina 77–74. The game ended with a last-second shot by Kris Jenkins. This was the only buzzer-beater in NCAA Championship game history.
In 2018, Villanova won their third NCAA Championship. They beat the Michigan Wolverines 79–62. Donte Divincenzo, a player from the bench, scored 31 points. He was named the Final Four MVP.
The Wildcats play their home games at two places. Smaller games are played at the 6,500-seat Finneran Pavilion on campus. Larger games are played at the 20,478-seat Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Football History
The Villanova men's football team plays in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. They are part of the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference.
Some people believe that the 1906 Villanova team made the first legal forward pass in football history.
Track and Field Achievements
Villanova University's track and field team has a long history of winning. They have won many championships, including Big East Conference and NCAA Championships.
The men's team has won 69 NCAA Championships. They have also won eight NCAA team Championships. Many Villanova athletes have competed in the Olympics. Ten of them have won medals, including seven gold medals. The men's team has won 112 Penn Relay Championships. This is the most wins by any school.
The women's team has also been very successful. They have won 11 Big East team Championships. They have also won nine NCAA team Championships. Nine women Olympians have come from Villanova. The women's team has won 28 Penn Relay Championships. This is the most wins by any women's team.
At least one Villanova athlete has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1948. They have won a total of 13 medals.
Villanova Traditions
The University Seal
The seal of Villanova University is seen everywhere on campus. It is based on the seal of the Order of St. Augustine. The seal has a ribbon with the university motto: Veritas, Unitas, Caritas. This means Truth, Unity, and Love. These are important values for everyone at Villanova.
A book on the seal stands for Augustine's love of learning. It also represents the New Testament. A cincture is part of the clothes worn by Augustinian priests. A flaming heart shows Augustine's search for God and his love for others. A crosier, a staff carried by a Bishop, remembers Augustine's role as a Bishop. Two crosses symbolize Augustine's conversion to Christianity. They also show the university's commitment to Catholicism. The laurel wreath means victory through learning. The year 1842 is when the university was founded. The words around the seal are Universitas Villanova In Statu Pennsylvaniae.
The Liberty Bell's "Sister Bell"
Villanova University used to have the "Sister Bell" of the Liberty Bell. This bell was made to replace the original Liberty Bell after it cracked. It was installed at the Pennsylvania State House, now called Independence Hall. The Sister Bell rang the hours until the 1820s.
Later, the bell was loaned to the Olde St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia. In 1844, the church and the bell were destroyed during riots. The Augustinian priests had the "Sister Bell" recast. They then brought it to Villanova University. The bell was moved off campus in 2011.
Today, the Sister Bell is kept in the Heritage Room. This room is in the basement of the St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery on campus.
Famous Villanova Alumni
Many famous people have graduated from Villanova University.
Some well-known actors and entertainers include Maria Bello, Jon Polito, Bradley Cooper, Toby Keith, Jim Croce, Don McLean, and Tim Hauser.
In sports, famous alumni include Jalen Brunson, Kyle Lowry, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, Howie Long, and Sonia O'Sullivan.
Villanova has also produced many government and military leaders. These include former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, former First Lady of the United States Jill Biden, and former Director of the United States Secret Service Joe Clancy. Several Marine generals and Naval Admirals also graduated from Villanova's NROTC program.
Other notable alumni include:
- Sean M. Carroll, a scientist who studies the universe.
- John L. Hennessy, former president of Stanford University.
- John Joseph O'Connor, a Cardinal Archbishop.
Images for kids
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A panoramic view of the Main Campus in early spring
