Duke vs. Villanova

Deciding between Duke 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.

Duke University
Villanova University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Duke 17,499
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Duke #2
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Duke
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • Duke $18,128
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • Duke $21,981
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Duke $65,522
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Duke 43%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Duke 51,795
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • Duke 2,957
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Duke 1540
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Duke 34
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Duke 3.94
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Duke A
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Duke Elite
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Duke Extreme
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • Duke 34/35
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Duke Test optional
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Duke 5:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Duke 94%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Duke $108,900
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Duke 89%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Duke $7,500
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Duke $77
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Duke 44%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • Duke 56%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Duke Very High
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • Duke No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • Duke 46%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • Duke 22%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • Duke 10%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Duke 7%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • Duke 1%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Duke 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Duke 2%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • Duke 10%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Duke 2%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Duke 15%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Duke 73%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Duke University in Durham, NC with Villanova University in Villanova, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Duke University is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 10,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Duke University is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); Villanova University is in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Duke University 5:1; Villanova University 10:1.

Duke vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duke 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 Duke University than Villanova ($21,981 vs. $37,201).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 2.4% lower than at Duke University ($17,694 vs. $18,128).
  • Duke University is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Villanova (about $982 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $67,776.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at Duke than at Villanova University (about $982 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $67,776.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Villanova University than at Duke University (48% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 37.6% larger than aid received by Villanova University students ($65,522 vs. $47,609).

Duke vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duke 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 Duke.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 90 points higher than at Villanova (1450).
  • Incoming Duke students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Villanova).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 1500/1570; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 34/35; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duke - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Duke Jan 3, 2027; Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Villanova (3.87).
  • Villanova has a higher acceptance rate (27%) than Duke (5.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 58.8% at Duke vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

Duke vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duke 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).

  • Duke University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Villanova University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $23,800 more per year than Villanova graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $85,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $18,997 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($7,500 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $196 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($77 vs. $273).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duke students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 89%)

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.