Villanova University vs Loyola Chicago

Villanova University and Loyola University Chicago, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Villanova, a private Catholic university in Pennsylvania, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate compared to Loyola, a private Jesuit university in Illinois. While Villanova's student body is predominantly white, Loyola's is more diverse. Both universities excel in various academic disciplines, with Villanova excelling in business and engineering, and Loyola in nursing and social work. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' unique strengths and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Loyola University Chicago	Villanova University
Overview
Location	Chicago, Illinois	Villanova, Pennsylvania
Campus setting	City: Large	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	88.0%	96.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation	Catholic	Catholic

Admission
Acceptance rate	77.0%	25.2%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $80 Graduate: $50
SAT range	1160 - 1360	1350 - 1490
ACT range	27 - 32	31 - 34
Students submitting SAT score	23.0%	28.0%
Students submitting ACT score	22.0%	17.0%
Total number of applicants	37,824	24,410
Total number of admissions given out	29,117	6,162
Admitted students who chose to enroll	2,867	1,772
Yield rate	9.8%	28.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$63,074	$77,806
Average net price	$29,371	$33,123
Tuition	$46,410	$58,290
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,400 Meal plan: $5,780	Room/dormitory: $8,236 Meal plan: $7,150
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	98.0% Average amount $25,854	52.0% Average amount $43,106
Students receiving federal student loan	44.0% Average amount $5,419	34.0% Average amount $5,267
Students taking out private loans	8.0% Average amount $17,984	7.0% Average amount $29,933

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	11,819 Men 31.8% Women 68.2%	7,032 Men 45.6% Women 54.4%
Graduate students	5,679 Men 32.1% Women 67.9%	3,838 Men 46.6% Women 53.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	50.0%	80.7%
International students	3.3%	3.6%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	3,902	5,400
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Illinois Michigan Minnesota California Ohio	New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Connecticut Maryland

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Health Professions Biological and Biomedical Sciences Legal Profession Psychology	Business Engineering Health Professions Legal Profession Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio	14:1	11:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	72.0%	91.3%
Dropout rate	27.4%	1.5%
Transferred out	N/A	7.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $100,817 Year 2: $220,906 Year 3: $179,958 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $93,218 Year 2: $97,604 Year 3: $105,174 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $78,836 Year 2: $87,470 Year 3: $104,925 Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $89,863 Year 2: $97,071 Year 3: $88,922 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $69,345 Year 2: $65,424 Year 3: $85,807 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $59,864 Year 2: $66,821 Year 3: $82,913 Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $62,124 Year 2: $61,380 Year 3: $75,618 Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,063 Year 2: $66,029 Year 3: $74,558 Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $58,529 Year 2: $56,544 Year 3: $70,042 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,111 Year 2: $66,195 Year 3: $69,151	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $114,668 Year 2: $165,766 Year 3: $171,511 Taxation (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $124,137 Year 2: $100,740 Year 3: $121,765 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $106,590 Year 2: $109,095 Year 3: $118,365 Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,687 Year 2: $90,856 Year 3: $106,587 Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,782 Year 2: $71,351 Year 3: $91,484 Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,757 Year 2: $73,579 Year 3: $88,419 Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $84,583 Year 2: $80,218 Year 3: $88,254 Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $71,297 Year 2: $71,947 Year 3: $86,990 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $73,492 Year 2: $72,214 Year 3: $85,108 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $71,115 Year 2: $74,576 Year 3: $84,596

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Villanova University and Loyola University Chicago?

Villanova University, located in suburban Philadelphia, is a private, Catholic, Augustinian university known for its strong sense of community and focus on undergraduate education. Loyola University Chicago, situated in a major metropolitan city, is a private, Catholic, Jesuit university with a broader range of graduate programs and a more diverse student body. Villanova tends to have a more residential campus feel, while Loyola offers a more urban experience.
How do the academic reputations of Villanova and Loyola Chicago compare?

Both Villanova and Loyola Chicago are well-regarded universities. Villanova is particularly strong in business, engineering, and nursing, often ranking highly in these fields. Loyola Chicago has a strong reputation in health sciences, law, and business, and is known for its commitment to social justice. Both institutions offer a rigorous academic environment, but Villanova's smaller size may allow for more personalized attention.
What is the campus environment like at Villanova versus Loyola Chicago?

Villanova offers a traditional, close-knit campus environment with a strong emphasis on student life and Augustinian values. It's primarily a residential campus, fostering a strong sense of community. Loyola Chicago, being in a major city, offers a more diverse and urban campus experience. Students have access to the city's cultural attractions and internship opportunities, but the campus environment is more integrated with the surrounding urban landscape.
How do the costs of attending Villanova and Loyola Chicago compare?

Generally, Villanova and Loyola Chicago have similar tuition costs. However, the overall cost of attendance can vary depending on factors like room and board, personal expenses, and financial aid packages. Living expenses in Chicago might be higher than in Villanova's suburban location. It's best to compare the net cost (cost after financial aid) for each university based on your individual circumstances.
What types of students typically attend Villanova and Loyola Chicago?

Villanova tends to attract students seeking a traditional, residential college experience with a strong sense of community and a focus on faith-based values. Loyola Chicago attracts a more diverse student body, including those interested in urban living, social justice issues, and a wider range of academic programs. Both universities attract academically motivated students, but their campus cultures cater to slightly different preferences.
What are the career opportunities like after graduating from Villanova and Loyola Chicago?

Both Villanova and Loyola Chicago offer strong career services and alumni networks. Villanova's location near Philadelphia provides access to opportunities in various industries, particularly business and healthcare. Loyola Chicago's location in a major metropolitan area offers a wider range of internship and job opportunities across diverse sectors, including finance, law, media, and healthcare. Both universities prepare students well for their chosen career paths.
How do the athletic programs at Villanova and Loyola Chicago compare?

Villanova is known for its highly successful men's basketball program, which has won multiple national championships. Villanova competes in the Big East Conference. Loyola Chicago also has a strong athletic program, particularly in men's basketball, and competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference. While both universities offer a variety of sports, Villanova's basketball program has a higher national profile.
What are the religious affiliations and how do they impact campus life?

Both Villanova and Loyola Chicago are Catholic universities, but they are affiliated with different religious orders. Villanova is Augustinian, while Loyola Chicago is Jesuit. This influences the values and traditions emphasized on campus. Both universities promote service, social justice, and ethical leadership, but the specific focus and approach may differ slightly based on their respective religious traditions. Religious services and activities are available on both campuses, but participation is not mandatory.
What are the class sizes and student-to-faculty ratios at Villanova and Loyola Chicago?

Villanova generally has smaller class sizes and a lower student-to-faculty ratio compared to Loyola Chicago. This can lead to more personalized attention from professors and a more intimate learning environment. While Loyola Chicago also offers opportunities for interaction with faculty, its larger size may result in larger class sizes in some programs.
What are some unique programs or opportunities offered at Villanova and Loyola Chicago?

Villanova is known for its strong undergraduate research opportunities and its emphasis on service learning. Loyola Chicago offers unique programs related to its urban location, such as internships with Chicago-based organizations and research opportunities focused on urban issues. Loyola also has a strong study abroad program with centers around the world. Both universities offer a variety of unique programs tailored to their respective strengths and locations.

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