Villanova University (VU)

Villanova University puts an "emphasis on service" and sets students up for success by providing numerous resources, not just for current enrollees but for graduates as well. The school's track record bears that out, with 95 percent of the graduating class of 2024 securing opportunities after graduation. To help students achieve their goals, classrooms tend to mix things up across lectures, discussions, field trips, and projects, the latter of which are specifically praised for having "real-world applications" and being "designed to help students in the long run." Along with that, students point to how "opportunities outside of the classroom really complement your education." For example, Nova offers servicelearning courses where students work directly with partners in the local community, including volunteering with nonprofits focused on adult literacy, working with athletes in the Special Olympics, and tutoring in local prisons. Moreover, in addition to a wide variety of tutoring services, there are need-based initiatives like The Sunshine Fund, which helps to pay for things like attending conference or club fees. No matter what form the classes take, students can expect to find passionate professors who get "fired up about what they teach" and are "true teachers and scholars." Professors are "easily accessible" and "go above and beyond their office hours" to offer support, though students recommend being proactive: "It is mostly up to you to take advantage of them as a resource." Between the hands-on professors and the school's numerous resources, Nova is a place where "If you want to succeed, the community will do everything in its power to make sure you can do so."

"We are the Nova Nation, built upon an unbreakable foundation of community." This sense of community stems "from service, school spirit around the basketball team, and everyone actively pursuing their own area of academic interest." Students balance their academics, extracurriculars, and volunteer work alongside having fun: they "party on the weekends and show up ready to all of their classes." Overall, the "well-rounded" and typical classmate is "extremely affable, professional, and an achiever," or to put it another way, "a school full of all the high school superstars." Overall, this crowd gets along well with each other, coming together to create an "outstanding community" that's built on "a lot of mutual respect."

On the busy Villanova campus, most people are involved in one of the 300 student organizations and "a ton of students get involved with intramurals or club sports teams, as well." There are opportunities to volunteer, such as "week-long service break experiences all over the world" or "driving into Philly to play with kids and help them with their studies." Events, like formals, are "a big deal," and at Fall Festival, the world's largest studentrun Special Olympics event, students enjoy "cheering on the athletes." The same goes for basketball season, where "people get their work done early to flock to the [Pavilion] for games." Throughout the year, there are weekend activities hosted by the Campus Activity Team and students can hang out at the Connelly Center, which has lounges, meeting rooms, a coffee shop, an ice cream shop, and "a cinema that is always showing a movie." The majority of students live on campus and "most residence halls are really impressive and kept up very well." Philadelphia is "an easy short train ride" away and the school also offers a free weekend shuttle to the King of Prussia Mall, one of the largest in the country. On average, the campus "has a focused atmosphere" and as the weekend approaches, "you can feel [the] campus relax and people are more likely to go out."

The Villanova Career Center hosts career fairs in the spring and fall to help hook students up with internships and jobs, and there are smaller, industry-based fairs held throughout the year for students interested in nursing and teaching. There is a “great presence of recruiters on campus,” and potential employers collect student résumés and conduct on-campus interviews through the Career Center. Hundreds of alumni also take part in the Career Connections Advisor Program, and Villanova “does an impeccable job coordinating volunteer opportunities for students.” Villanova reports that the average starting salary for recent graduates was $59,235 and the university had a 96 percent success placement rate (employed, continuing education or other planned activities).