<p>My daughter and I just came back from a wonderful visit at Villanova. She also likes Clemson University and I am trying to determine if the 20K per year (approx) difference would be worth it. She will be studying engineering. I am sure many of the current students/parents had similar decisions so I just want to make sure I take into account all of the intangibles. Thanks.</p>
<p>As per College Board.
Clemson 2011 Out-of-state tuition & fees+Room & board =$ 36,032.</p>
<p>Villanova 2011 tuition & fees + Room & board =$52,500.</p>
<p>X 4 year=65 grand , it’s a lot of money and only you can determine personal value difference between public / private university and the role financial aid plays in total cost of attending.</p>
<p>I know a family that has 2 at VU and 1 at Clemson.
Villanova Engineering is well regarded and quite rigorous. Many VU Engineering students struggle at first with the work load. </p>
<p>[FAQs</a> for Prospective Students and Parents](<a href=“COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING | Villanova University”>COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING | Villanova University)</p>
<p>[Best</a> Undergraduate Engineering Programs | Rankings | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-no-doctorate]Best”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-no-doctorate)</p>
<p>Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs Rankings programs for schools whose highest engineering degree offered is a bachelor’s or master’s. </p>
<h1>10Villanova University</h1>
<p>Other factors are distance from home , school culture (mid atlantic vs south) , suburban vs rural, medium size vs large size enrollment.
Nova has better students faculty ratio, higher average SAT scores , lower admit rates and a better name brand recognition in the North.</p>
<p>Villanova has wonderful traditions of service based activities , will these have value for your daughter?
Tough decision for you , but a good problem to have , good,luck.</p>
<p>Brave Ulysses,
Thanks for the input. It is certainly difficult, if not impossible, to put a value on the tradition and personal development offered by the strong service based philosophy.
I was curious, has the family that have students at each ever given you feedback?
Thanks again,
ohiodad2</p>
<p>That’s always a tough question ohiodad. Part of the equation though is the extent to which you can absorb the difference in cost and the particular qualities of the student. </p>
<p>Two of my kids applied to Clemson including the one currently attending Nova. When we visited Clemson we met a number of students who seemed just as enthusiastic about their school as the students we met at Nova. However, in terms of what was specifically best suited for my daughter Nova stood out much more prominantly. Given the latter circumstances, and knowing what I know now based on her actual experiences, I would personally choose to spend the extra money provided doing so did not present any extraordinary financial hardships.</p>
<p>On the contrary, if it really came down to a toss up and there was no clear indication my daughter would thrive at one place more greatly than the other, there’s no way I would fork over the additional costs - I wouldn’t be able to justify it in my mind under those conditions.</p>
<p>@FLVADAD
Thanks for the reply - you hit the nail on the head.
I think another visit to Clemson might be best to make sure the first one wasn’t a fluke (it was 65 and sunny in February - who wouldn’t like it?)</p>
<p>Villanova has outstanding credentials, which definitely place it academically superior to Clemson. </p>
<p>Avg sat at VU 1390
Avg sat at Clemson 1210</p>
<p>VU ranked #25 Nationwide, Top Undergraduate Return on Investment, Bloomberg Businessweek</p>
<p>95% of students who graduate Villanova have a full-time job or are in professional/grad school six months after graduation. </p>
<p>I think your daughter will definitely get a better education at Villanova, but it does come down to what her future plans are…a school will only pay off in the long run if you pursue the high-paying positions…if she wants to get into a good law school, med school, or mba program then go to Villanova…if she wants to major in psychology( no offense to psyc majors) then the high price of nova probably is not worth it.</p>
<p>@Nova21
Villanova has excellent SAT stats but you do not need to inflate them to sound better than Clemson.</p>
<p>According to Nova’s common data set the 25 - 75 percent range is
SAT Critical Reading 590 - 680
SAT Math 620 - 710
So the average SAT is not 1390. Actually, 75% have lower than 1390.
You can see this on page 10 of
[Common</a> Data Set](<a href=“http://www.villanova.edu/enroll/office/common_data_set/]Common”>http://www.villanova.edu/enroll/office/common_data_set/)</p>
<p>Clemson is a little lower but not as much as you say
SAT Critical Reading 550 - 650
SAT Math 580 - 680
So their 75% mark is 1330.</p>
<p>I am also looking to study Engineering at Villanova. The other schools I am considering are Univ of Del, Northeastern and Bucknell. If your daughter is interested in Engineering, she can’t go wrong at Villanova. It’s my first choice. I’ve been accepted at all 4 and am awaiting my financial info from V, B and UDel. As long as the other 3 offer as much as Northeastern($30,000), i will pick Villanova. I don’t know much about Clemson so I can’t give you any pros or cons there. Good luck to your daugher 
.</p>
<p>In reply to Jfenn999, she is correct about the average SAT scores at Villanova. In the Engineering school, which is the most difficult to get in to, the admitted students’ SAT/ACT scores are much higher than the average she quoted. If your daughter was accepted Early Action, which I’m assuming she was since she was just there over the weekend (I was too), then she should consider attending if you can swing the tuition. I know it’s very steep. Most females in the Engineering school are offered some financial incentive to attend Villanova. Good luck to you, I hope she is happy with whatever she decides.</p>
<p>@nova2011 - Thank you for the response and the differences are evident as they would be in comparison to most large public universities. However, academically superior might be a bit strong in this example. I would have thought those words would be more associated in comparing C-M or UM. One item to consider would be that the Clemson Honors college actually has courses and research geared towards the specific areas of study (engineering in our case). Another bonus is that they get to register for classes early.</p>
<p>@islandgal - It is nice to know girls are offered financial incentive - hopefully we find out soon! Good luck with the end of your selection process. Those are all fine schools and if you are going into Chem E I have heard from a few PHDs that UDel is one of the best.</p>
<p>[FAQs</a> for Prospective Students and Parents](<a href=“COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING | Villanova University”>COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING | Villanova University)
What are the average SAT scores for an engineering major?</p>
<p>The middle 50% of current freshmen scored between 650 and 720 on the math and between 570 and 640 on the verbal.</p>
<p>1390 is not the average for any school at Villanova.</p>
<p>@ohiodad2 Thank you. I am planning to major in Chem E. I also had heard that UDel was a good choice. I am thinking Villanova for undergrad and UDel for my grad work but I am waiting for the financial offers from Nova and Del before I decide. Many undergrads from Northeastern and Nova attend UDel for their grad work so I’m thinking the undergrad must be very good too.</p>
<p>@jen, @ulysses, I am sorry when I said AT Villanova…I meant avg SAT score of accepted students, which is 1390. I assumed his daughter hasn’t been notified of an accpetance yet, and hence the SAT range of accepted applicants would be more fitting for her situation…sorry for the confusion. This information is found on VU webpage under prospective students.</p>
<p>I think the real question is how tight is money? Because a cumulative 80k saved at Clemson is nothing to be overlooked. That money could be saved for grad school or future endeavors in general. Comparing the two I don’t think Nova is clearly worth that much more than Clemson. But if you have the money and she loves Nova then it may be. Good luck!</p>
<p>Tough decision. 2 different friends both have D at Clemson. They love it (not Engineering both Honors & both rec’d in state tuition scholarships). Love the rah rah, greek life, & nice weather. No complaints. Only negative I noticed was when I visited one of the girls dorm rooms in what’s called “the shoe box” dorms. The building was appallingly dismal- Dark, 1960s wall paper in dirty bathroom, rooms small, beds made out of metal pipes… but it did have a/c- not sure if the kids noticed or just get used to it. </p>
<p>But that’s only 1 year- there is nicer housing on campus. </p>
<p>At Villanova the on campus dorms for 1st & 2nd yr is not super either but a whole lot better. Anotehr plus - I think you get a lot more interaction with your professors & your advisor - which could be important. However, sounds like your D could navigate a big U system very well. </p>
<p>Also campus living in SC is really inexpensive compared to Villanova - which is another big savings. Clemson population of kids are all on a budget - so are Villanova’s but there’s a lot more cash flying around. </p>
<p>One of the girls who went to Clemson- the money was there for another private $50K school but parents didn’t believe that the $100k difference is worth it for UG degree. They told the D the some of $ would be there for her when she graduates for grad school or to purchase apt. etc… It helped her make up her mind.</p>
<p>That being said my S loves, loves, loves Villanova & I think the smaller hands on expereince has been great for him.</p>
<p>@LilyEmery @Livesinnewjersey Thanks for the responses. Right now the money wouldn’t be an issue but you bring up great points…I could always help her out with grad school if she so chooses.
Hopefully if she selects a learning community or the honors college she wouldn’t be stuck in a shoe box.</p>
<p>@ohiodad2 I asked one of the Residence Life staff about the learning community housing and she said that if a lot of people request the same community, those rooms may end up being tripled, so community living may not be a plus for housing. It’s really the only drawback that I have right now about Nova.</p>
<p>@islandgal @ohiodad2 I am a current sophomore Villanova Student in the nursing program and I was actually in the Leadership Learning Community my freshman year. I was housed in St. Monica’s dormitory on South Campus and was tripled for the first month before we were de-tripled. Due to the sheer amount of admitted students and learning community students, the majority of freshman seem to be tripled, unless they live in Stanford (the biggest dormitory on South with the smallest rooms). The freshman dormitories are actually pretty big (bigger than the sophomore dorms!) and can comfortably house three people. If you decide to join the Villanova community, I’d definitely say go for the learning communities, without a doubt! It is the source of many of my favorite memories of freshman year! Hope that helps!</p>