Founded in 1842, Villanova University is one of two Catholic, Augustinian colleges in the United States. The center of Villanova University’s seal depicts a heart on top of The Bible, symbolic of Saint Augustine’s conviction that humanity was defined by its restless search for God. The seal also bears the Latin words Veritas, Unitas Caritas, which translate to truth, unity, and love, the core Augustinian values. For Villanova, this runs deeper than organized religion. One of the hallmarks of an Augustinian education is a community of mutual respect rooted in friendship. In his 400 AD memoir, Confessions, Saint Augustine sounds like he could be a student quoted in a Villanova admissions brochure when he lists the joys of community: “Reading elegantly written books together, sharing jokes and delighting to honor one another, disagreeing occasionally but without rancor.” 

And if religion and spirituality aren’t your way into community, maybe basketball is. Villanova has won NCAA National Championships in 1985, 2016, and 2018, and game days are a big part of campus life. V for Villanova, V for Victory. 

Located just outside of Philadelphia, Villanova has an undergraduate enrollment of about 7,000 students. With an acceptance rate that hovers around 23%, Villanova University is a competitive school. It’s ranked number 57 on US News & World Report’s list of national universities. 

If you’ve found yourself on this page, you’re probably wondering what kind of GPA your child needs to get into the Augustinian hub. Well, you’ve come to the right place. We at Ivy Coach have combed through the past three years of data that Villanova has self-reported to The Common Data Set Initiative,  a voluntary effort among colleges to help all of those involved with a student’s transition into higher education. We’re going to jump into the numbers below!

GPA Percentage of Villanova University Class of 2029

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the Villanova University Class of 2029:

GPA	Percentage of Villanova University Class of 2029
4.0	47%
3.75-3.99	41%
3.5-3.74	8%
3.25-3.49	3%
3.0-3.24	0%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of Villanova University Class of 2028

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the Villanova University Class of 2028:

GPA	Percentage of Villanova University Class of 2028
4.0	46.1%
3.75-3.99	40.8%
3.5-3.74	10.5%
3.25-3.49	1.6%
3.0-3.24	0.7%
2.5-2.99	0.3%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of Villanova University Class of 2027

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the Villanova University Class of 2027:

GPA	Percentage of Villanova University Class of 2027
4.0	35.14%
3.75-3.99	39.94%
3.5-3.74	21.41%
3.25-3.49	2.56%
3.0-3.24	0.96%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

Further Context on GPAs of Villanova Students

If you’re not a numbers and charts person, let’s talk through these figures. Last year, almost half (47%) of Villanova’s Class of 2029 had a perfect high school GPA. Around 40% came onto campus with a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. This means 87% of the incoming first-year class had impressive GPAs. Only 11% of the class had a GPA below that 3.75 mark, a slim margin. 

The year before that bears a similar story. 46% of incoming first-year students in the Villanova Class of 2028 had a 4.0 in high school. And 40.8% had a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. Again, that’s 86.8% of students with high GPAs. 12.1% came in with GPAs between 3.25 and 3.74. That year, you’ll notice a few outliers: 0.7% had a GPA between 3.0 and 3.24 and 0.3% of had a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99. We’d wager that those students had other ways in. Those figures may represent a recruited star point guard, a student whose family donates lots of money to the university, or perhaps a kid who has a direct line to Saint Augustine himself. 

Finally, with the Class of 2028, we see an ever-so-slightly less impressive academic profile. That year, only 35.14% of incoming first-year students came in with perfect GPAs. Slightly more (39.94%) came in with GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99. And a sizable 21.41% came in with GPAs between 3.5 and 3.74. 

Can Students Get into Villanova with a Low GPA?

The short answer: while it’s not probable, it’s still possible. You saw those numbers. Villanova tends to enroll mainly top GPA earners. 

But college admissions isn’t just a numbers game. Villanova University maintains a holistic admissions review process.

How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at Villanova University

If you’re looking to enhance your child’s chances of getting into Villanova University, we strongly recommend Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. This session provides insights into your child’s potential for admission to Villanova University and devises a comprehensive plan for optimizing their admission to the best school possible. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.