Villanova University was established in 1842 by two Philadelphia friars of the Augustinian Order for all-male, religious training. Closed during the Panic of 1857, Villanova reopened after the Civil War and flourished with returning veterans. By 1968, Villanova had transformed into the private, coeducational Catholic ACCU institution of today.
Endowed for $715 million, Villanova University upholds the values “Truth, Unity, and Charity” when training 10,842 Wildcats across 150+ programs, including data analytics. Belonging to the Philadelphia Big 5, Villanova stands atop a 254-acre, tree-lined campus in Radnor Township just 30 minutes from Center City via the Norristown High-Speed Line. Villanova University is linked to 120,102 LinkedIn alumni, including Second Lady Jill Biden, Governor John Rowland, and gold medalist Sonia O’Sullivan.
According to the U.S. News & World Report, Villanova is the 46th best national university, 48th top value, and 38th best part-time business school. On Niche, Nova is America’s 13th best accounting school, 75th top private university, and 80th best Common App college. The Princeton Review ranked Villanova University 14th for best career services. Washington Monthly applauded Villanova for the 38th highest research expenditures and 70th most Peace Corps volunteers. PayScale placed Villanova 80th for its median early-career salary of $62,900. Villanova University is the United States’ 37th top research institute with the 180th most grateful graduates in Forbes magazine. Graded “A+” based on classmate caliber, Villanova also landed 19th for master’s business education in Bloomberg.
Villanova University Accreditation Details
Reaffirmed in 2016 under president Rev. Peter Donohue, Villanova University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of six regional agencies confirmed by the U.S. Department of Education. The Villanova School of Business is specifically approved by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Certain analytics courses are also recognized by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
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Villanova University Application Requirements
Classified as “more selective,” Villanova University’s Fall 2016 admission data shows a 44 percent acceptance rate from 21,109 applications. Getting into the targeted freshman size of 1,670 requires finishing a high school diploma strong. Aspiring Business Analytics Co-Majors must have completed a college-prep curriculum with four years of math. Admitted students rank in the top 10 percent of their class with an average GPA of 3.86. Freshmen also achieved a mean SAT score of 1360 and ACT score of 31. Transfers are accepted with up to 60 credits from regionally accredited colleges graded “C” or greater.
Entering an Online MSA cohort is possible for early- and mid-career analysts who’ve acquired an accredited baccalaureate. Incoming graduates need at least one statistics course graded “B” or higher. Preference is given for academic majors in business, computer science, mathematics, and engineering. Villanova post-grads should maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during the last 60 undergraduate credits. Although wholly optional, admitted VSB majors typically score between 560 and 710 on the Graduate Management Admission Test.
Villanova University has created an Early Decision deadline of November 1st and Regular Decision deadline of January 15th for undergrads. The Master of Science in Analytics program has a Spring deadline of November 30th and Fall deadline of July 31st. Students submit the Common Application or Graduate Studies Application online with any extras mailed to 800 East Lancaster Avenue in Villanova, PA 19085. Admission committees look for the following:
• Official high school or undergrad transcripts
• Electronic standardized testing reports
• Two letters of professional references
• Business résumé of academic/work experience
• Two typed responses to essay questions
• Payment for the $60 non-refundable fee
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2017-18, Villanova University has charged full-time undergrads $2,809 per credit or $50,554 each year for tuition. General and student health fees add $360 and $370 respectively. Business Analytics Co-Majors living on the Radnor Township campus also budget $13,093 for annual room and board. Total cost of attendance is roughly $54,580 for commuters and $65,773 for residential undergrads. Going beyond the BBA will cost graduates $1,200 per credit with a $50 general fee each term. The 36-credit Master of Science in Analytics is estimated to cost $43,450 total online. The Master of Accountancy bills slightly less for $1,005 per credit.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 52 percent of full-time Villanova Wildcats receive an average financial aid package worth $29,532 for $107.7 million total. Merit-based institutional funds include the Saint Augustine Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, Randazzo Scholarship, Hovnanian Scholarship, and Goizueta Scholarship. The VSB offers graduate fellowships with stipends of $6,550 per semester. Bachelor’s students might receive Federal Pell Grants, SEOG Grants, or Perkins Loans. Master’s scholars might borrow Direct Unsubsidized or Grad PLUS loans. Quaker State residents can apply for the Pennsylvania State Grant, Chafee Grant, and Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program. Federal Work-Study jobs are available for up to 20 hours weekly. The Nova Office of Financial Assistance also helps coordinate Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for veterans.
Preparing for Big Data Careers at Villanova
Located in The Clay Center, the School of Business at Villanova University offers the Business Analytics Co-Major for the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. Undergrads customize the 125-credit curriculum by selecting a first major like Accounting, Economics, Finance, or Marketing to pair with six analytics courses. Chaired by Dr. Melissa German, the four-year, full-time program uses the Center for Business Analytics to teach topics like data mining, econometrics, and database management with an engaging 12:1 student-faculty ratio. Upper-division co-majors with 2.5 GPAs or better qualify for internship credits with Crowe Horwath, Barclays, Google, Drucker & Scaccetti, and others. Business analytics students may also enter the VSB Mentor Program, travel abroad to Singapore, get Bloomberg Market Concepts certification, and pledge Beta Gamma Sigma.
For Villanova post-grads, the Master of Science in Analytics takes an online, video-based approach on Blackboard to deepen proficiency with turning quantitative data into actionable business intelligence. Headed by Dr. Michael Capella, the 36-credit, non-thesis program takes just 20 months full-time for courses like enterprise data systems, multivariate analysis, web mining, and “R” programming. Study culminates with an applied Big Data practicum project with real-world partners like KPMG and AT&T. Starting in August 2018, another option will be the Master of Accountancy in Data Analytics specialization. This 30-credit, on-campus program will emphasize financial market issues with courses from auditing and valuation to data visualization. Villanova University encourages young CPAs with a Meet the Firm event that draws Ernst & Young, Baker Tilly, Grant Thornton, and more.
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