Rutgers vs. Villanova

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Villanova University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Villanova University in Villanova, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 10,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Villanova University is in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Villanova University 10:1.

Rutgers vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Villanova ($20,522 vs. $37,201).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 11.2% lower than at Villanova University ($15,714 vs. $17,694).
  • Villanova University is 278% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $49,847 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81% higher at Villanova than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $30,335 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at Villanova University (50% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 184.4% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($47,609 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 40 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Villanova (27%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

Rutgers vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,282 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($22,215 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($229 vs. $273).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 68%)

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.