What are the pros and cons of each? And what would you say is the better school overall?
Both excellent choices. Bucknell probably has more of a national reputation. Villanova has the better location as it has a pretty campus with easy access to main line towns and Philadelphia. Bucknell has a cute little town right next to campus but it really amounts to just a couple streets and beyond that you are in the middle of no where. Bucknell is more Greek oriented with quite the rep as a party school. Villanova has a better sports program and the school spirit to accompany that. Bucknell will have more of a small school liberals arts feel, while Villanova has more of a pre professional university vibe. Academics strong at both schools. Business quite good at Villanova. Both have engineering. Bucknell probably stronger than Villanova for Humanities. Community service more of a thing at Villanova and it is a Catholic school.