Founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine, Villanova is known for its excellence in education and its Catholic foundation. Augustinian education is known for its strong core curriculum and liberal arts approach, which Villanova employs to this day. The campus offers a comfortable mix of urban and suburban life. In fact, Villanova is located just 12 miles outside of Philadelphia and offers a train stop located right on the campus itself. With convenient access to the downtown area, students participate in opportunities both on and off campus. In fact, more than 75% of students take part in an on-site service learning project during their time at Villanova. Dedication to service is a major part of the well-rounded approach that the university proudly upholds.
In addition to academic rigor and commitment to service, Villanova is known for its college spirit. The university features 24 Division I varsity sports comprised by more than 500 student athletes, in addition to 44 club and intramural sports. The campus is home to a 12,000 seat stadium and a 6,500-seat multipurpose facility and arena. For those students who are not as interested in athletics, the school’s extracurricular opportunities reflect upwards of 250 extracurricular groups and organizations, such as Amnesty International, Habitat for Humanity and the Special Olympics.