Northeastern vs. Villanova

Deciding between Northeastern 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.

Northeastern University
Villanova University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern University in Boston, MA with Villanova University in Villanova, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 10,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Villanova University is in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Villanova University 10:1.

Northeastern vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern 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 Northeastern University than Villanova ($34,207 vs. $37,201).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 9.6% lower than at Northeastern University ($17,694 vs. $19,580).
  • Villanova University is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern (about $1,614 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Villanova than at Northeastern University (about $1,614 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University than at Villanova University (66% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Villanova University students ($50,421 vs. $47,609).

Northeastern vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern 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 Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 40 points higher than at Villanova (1450).
  • Incoming Northeastern 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: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Villanova (3.87).
  • Villanova has a higher acceptance rate (27%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

Northeastern vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern 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).

  • Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Villanova University graduates have a $1,378 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($26,497 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Villanova graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($273 vs. $288).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 79%)

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.