What are the pros and cons of each? And what would you say is the better school overall?
We visited both schools…they have much in common but there are also big differences. Both schools have engineering and management programs. The business school at Nova is large and well established. Bucknell has a newer and smaller management school. Both schools have many grads going into finance. Villanova also has a nursing school. At Nova, the majority of the students are enrolled in business, engineering or nursing. There is a somewhat more pre-professional/careerist energy at Villanova. Bucknell feels (and looks) more like a liberal arts college. Both schools have a majority of students coming from Pa, NJ and NY. Villanova is Catholic, and about half the students went to Catholic high schools. Bucknell has a greater prep school influence. The Bucknell student body is somewhat more diverse, but there is strong sense of suburban affluence at both schools.
In terms of campus life, at Villanova, the men’s basketball team is very important to the school’s identity and a big source of school spirit. Unlike most Catholic colleges, there is greek life at Villanova (especially sororities), but there are no greek houses, and greek life is not the focal point of social life for most students. At Bucknell, greek life is more central, and the majority of students belong to a fraternity or sorority. The Villanova campus is self contained in a nice suburb of Philly. There is convenient train service to Philly from the Villanova campus. Bucknell is located in a small but very pleasant college town of Lewisburg, and the shops and restaurant/movie theater is an easy walk from campus. 2 1/2 hour drive to Philly or Baltimore, 3 hours to NYC.
Villanova facilities and campus resources are improving, but still lag behind most of its peers. The library and science building are antiquated 1950s-60s style. Bucknell has uniformly excellent facilities, especially for a school of its size.
Ultimately, it is a fit/comfort issue. For academics/reputation, Bucknell is stronger for a science or liberal arts major, Villanova stronger for business, with both schools equal for engineering.
Agree that it’s ultimately a fit/comfort issue. We visited both twice. I loved Bucknell. At the end of the day, my daughter was turned off by Bucknell’s alleged party rep and felt like it was in the middle of nowhere. She liked the moral undertones at Villanova and the location. Nova also seems on upswing with basketball, No 1 undergrad business program and a large donation to renovate the pavilion. Both great choices!