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Villanova University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Villanova, PA · 6,938 students

The verdict

Villanova University charges a net price of $43,756/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $175,024. Graduates earn a median $100,423 ten years after entry, $52,063/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.4 years — a 20-year net return of $866,236, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Villanova University's 3.4-year payback ranks #226 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 82% of them, and #9 of 169 in Pennsylvania.

Better ROI than 82% of US colleges#226 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$43,756
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$100,423
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
3.4 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
27%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Villanova University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$43,756/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$175,024our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$100,423Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$52,063/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,874Scorecard, 2026
Payback3.4 yrsour math
20-year net return$866,236our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Villanova University's own numbers. Net price $43,756 × 4 years = $175,024 total. Median earnings $100,423 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $52,063 a year of premium. $175,024 ÷ $52,063 = 3.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $866,236. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Villanova University students graduate with?

A median $25,874 in federal loans among completers, or 26% of the $100,423 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Villanova University students graduate?

92% finish their degree. Spread the $175,024 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $190,243 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Villanova University expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?

Its $43,756 net price runs $22,015 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $88,060 more across the full degree.

Villanova University: frequently asked questions

Is Villanova University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Villanova University charges $43,756/yr after aid ($175,024 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $100,423 ten years out — $52,063/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 3.4 years and returns $866,236 net over 20 years, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast.
How long does a Villanova University degree take to pay off?
About 3.4 years. We divide the $175,024 four-year net cost by the $52,063/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Villanova University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $43,756/yr — about $175,024 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Villanova University compare to other Pennsylvania colleges?
It ranks #9 of 169 Pennsylvania colleges we track by payback. Its $100,423 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $43,756 net price is above the national median of $16,902.