Villanova University

Villanova University is also featured in our ranking The Top 10 Online Business Degree Programs and Business Schools.

Villanova University, named after Saint Thomas of Villanova, is the oldest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842, the school can be traced back to old Saint Augustine’s Church, which was established in 1796 by the Augustinian friars, as well as to its parish school, Saint Augustine’s Academy, founded in 1811. The school, surrounded by roughly 1,500 trees, is nestled on 254 acres just 12 miles from Center City Philadelphia.

U.S. News & World Report ties Villanova as one of the 46th best national universities in 2018. Villanova operates six colleges, four of which serve graduate and undergraduate students. Graduate programs include degrees in the Charles Widger School of Law and the School of Business. Students provide more than 250,000 hours of community service each year, and the school hosts the largest student-run Special Olympics in the world.

Online Business Degrees at Villanova University

Villanova University’s School of Business is ranked as one of the best undergraduate business schools in the nation by Bloomberg Businessweek, and students can choose from a number of business programs, including two top-ranked Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees: the #11 part-time MBA degree, according to Businessweek and the #24 executive MBA degree, according to the Financial Times. Other graduate business degrees include a Master of Science in Analytics, a Master of Taxation, and a Master of Science in Church Management.

Students considering earning an online Master of Business Administration degree from Villanova will take 21 courses throughout six semesters, and each semester is divided into two terms. Full-time students can complete the 48-credit-hour program in as few as two years. Functional core courses investigate topics such as a global accounting perspective of performance measurement and reporting fundamentals, strategic marketing management, team leadership and group dynamics, corporate finance, analyzing and leveraging data, and business operations in the 21st century.

The Executive MBA is designed for rising executives who have no plans of slowing down. Learning in a collaborative classroom enables students to solve real-world business crises while sharpening general business skills and business acumen.

The online MBA is grounded in creative problem-solving, ethics, and technology with a global perspective. This degree is designed for professionals seeking the highly rated Villanova experience in a personal, flexible online format. It is the same Villanova MBA — same amazing network, same faculty, and same curriculum.

The Specialized MBA degree helps students stand out. This intensive curriculum allows recent college graduates to seamlessly and quickly transition into the workforce and offers a streamlined approach for students seeking a mid-level career change. Students can choose from specialized programs such as the Online Master of Science in Analytics, the Master of Science in Finance, and the Master of Accounting with Data Analytics.

Villanova provides two highly ranked part-time MBA formats: the Flex Track MBA and the Fast Track MBA. The Flex Track option gives students the most flexibility in their on-campus MBA experience. Students can earn their degree in approximately three years by taking one or two classes per week. Villanova offers Saturday sessions, half-semester courses, traditional evening classes, and some online classes, which allow students to continue pursuing their education while maintaining their often-busy professional and personal lives.

The Fast Track MBA option is a two-year cohort program that allows students to take advantage of many of the same benefits as full-time MBA students while still working. Students following this track can complete their MBA degree in as few as 21 months, and the close-knit nature of the cohort program creates an ideal environment for students to network, learn, and build lifelong business connections.

Villanova also offers undergraduate business degrees in marketing, management information systems, management, finance, economics, and accounting. To pursue a major, the School of Business requires students to take six additional courses other than the core business coursework in a specific field of study. Concentrations include digital marketing, business development, consulting, and applied quantitative finance.

Villanova University Accreditation Details

Villanova University is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, the School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Accreditation assures prospective students and the community that the school has undergone and passed a peer review process and has shown it meets high-quality academic standards.

Villanova University Application Requirements

Prospective undergraduate students must complete the Common Application and Common Application essay for admission into Villanova University. Applicants are also required to send a Villanova essay, official high school transcript, official ACT and/or SAT scores, a nonrefundable $80 application fee, and one teacher letter of recommendation. International students must send IELTS or TOEFL scores to be considered for an undergraduate degree.

Students pursuing a graduate degree in business must complete the online application for admission and send an official transcript from each graduate or undergraduate institution attended. VSB requires students to submit two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores. Other application documents required for admittance include a nonrefundable $65 application fee and two essays. Those pursuing the “fast track” option are also required to participate in an invitation-only interview.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate students pursuing a business degree from VSB will pay $52,578 in tuition. Once health fees, general fees, meal plans, and room/board are factored in, the total cost per year for an undergraduate degree is $67,328. Graduate students will pay different tuition amounts depending on the exact degree they are earning. For instance, the MBA Flex Track and the MBA Fast Track cost $1,042 and $1,167 per credit, respectively, while the MBA online degree costs $1,350 per credit, and the MSA online degree costs $1,334 per credit. Graduate students are also charged a $50 general fee per semester.

Villanova is dedicated to offering financial assistance to its undergraduate and graduate students, which may include a combination of student employment, loans, scholarships, and grants that will help to meet educational expenses. Undergraduates must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), complete the CSS Profile Form, and submit tax forms and W-2s for consideration. Financing options for graduates include private educational loan programs, the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, the William D. Ford Direct Student Loan Program, and Tuition Management Systems (TMS), also known as the Villanova Tuition Payment Plan.