Villanova vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Villanova University in Villanova, PA with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Villanova University is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (10,041 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Villanova University is located in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Villanova University 10:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Villanova vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Villanova or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Villanova ($19,686 vs. $37,201).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 8.5% lower than at Villanova University ($16,182 vs. $17,694).
• Villanova University is 161.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $41,862 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.8% higher at Villanova than at William & Mary (about $16,738 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Villanova University than at William & Mary (48% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 105.7% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($47,609 vs. $23,144).

Villanova vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Villanova or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Villanova.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 20 points higher than at Villanova (1450).
• Incoming Villanova students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at William & Mary (33).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Villanova University 1395/1510; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Villanova University 32/34; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Villanova - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Villanova Jan 15, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at William & Mary (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Villanova (27%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.7% at Villanova vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Villanova vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Villanova and William & Mary? 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Villanova University's (90%).
• Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $6,997 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,497).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($201 vs. $273).
• More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 85%)

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.