Location: Villanova, PA•In-State Tuition: $64,701•Admission Rate: 25%•Avg SAT: 1466
Median Earnings (1yr)
$82,008
95th percentile
80th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Debt
$26,197
12% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.32 ManageableSample: 247 graduates

Analysis

Villanova's finance program commands premium tuition but delivers returns that justify the investment. First-year graduates earn $82,000—53% above the national median for finance majors and $24,000 more than Pennsylvania's typical finance graduate. Within four years, earnings jump to $110,000, placing this program in competition with elite regional outcomes (though still behind Penn's Wharton-level $123,000). With debt under $27,000, graduates face a manageable 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they owe roughly four months of their starting salary.

The 80th percentile ranking among Pennsylvania finance programs tells the complete story: only Penn and Lehigh consistently produce higher earners in-state. Villanova's combination of selective admissions (25% acceptance rate, 1466 average SAT) and strong business school reputation translates directly into Wall Street and corporate finance placement. The robust sample size confirms these aren't outliers—this is the expected outcome.

For families who can manage the private school price tag, this represents a straightforward path to upper-middle-class earnings with minimal debt burden. The return on investment materializes quickly, with graduates earning nearly double what typical Pennsylvania finance majors make within four years of graduation.

Where Villanova University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Villanova UniversityOther finance and financial management services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Villanova University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Villanova University earns $82k — 95th percentile among finance and financial management services bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Villanova University$82,008$110,166+34%
University of Pennsylvania$122,698$206,646+68%
Lehigh University$76,720$107,260+40%
Muhlenberg College$61,304$91,304+49%
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia$66,072$85,648+30%

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (49 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Villanova UniversityVillanova$64,701$82,008$110,166$26,1970.32
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia$66,104$122,698$206,646$12,8650.10
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem$62,180$76,720$107,260$23,2500.30
Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia$51,340$66,072$85,648$25,0000.38
Widener UniversityChester$53,638$62,672—$26,9800.43
Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe$41,100$61,518$71,311$26,7970.44
National Median—$53,590—$23,3320.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Villanova University, approximately 12% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 247 graduates with reported earnings and 222 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.