FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For 2025, SBI begins on Monday, May 19 (full day of classes) and runs through Friday, July 25. Classes are held M-F | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., EDT throughout the program.  Some early evening or weekend sessions may be required.

SBI is 100% online. Students can choose to learn from home and/or wherever they have a secure internet and a consistently quiet setting which will facilitate synchronous and asynchronous learning, team meetings, and test taking.

SBI consists of both morning and afternoon sessions (M-F, 10 AM – 5 PM ET) featuring class instruction and, depending on the course, may include programming events and speakers. Courses are taught and programming is held through both synchronous and asynchronous modalities. Depending on the course, the first class/morning session may include a 10:00 - 11:30 AM synchronous Zoom session, followed by asynchronous work from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. There is typically an hour for lunch. The afternoon session begins at 2:00 pm, with a similar – or varied – format to the morning session. Faculty office hours and tutoring are held during lunch breaks or after 5:00 pm.

The majority of applicants are first and second year students, followed by juniors and graduating seniors.  A small percentage of recent graduates consider and apply to SBI as well.  Interested students are welcome to discuss their candidacy with Trish Burdo, Director of VSB’s Business Summer Programs. Contact Trish Burdo.

Yes! Student ambassadors are available to discuss their experiences, and answer questions.  Please visit the SBI Ambassadors page to learn more about connecting with our SBI ambassadors.

Interested students must be in good academic standing at his/her home institution and have successfully completed, or be in the process of completing their first year (generally 30 credits) when applying. While there is not a minimum GPA requirement for admission, a holistic review of credentials is conducted, and students must demonstrate a strong academic history in order to be considered for the program.  Interested students are welcome to discuss their candidacy with Trish Burdo, Director of VSB’s Business Summer Programs. Contact Trish Burdo.

Typical enrollment for SBI averages 115 - 200 students. Sections are capped at 25 students to ensure a smaller, more impactful educational experience - for both students and SBI faculty. Enrolled students from Villanova represent the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing.

For the past 10-12 years, the majority of the class is comprised of rising sophomores and juniors, followed by rising seniors and current-year graduates. Alumni, 1-5 years out are eligible to apply, and may make up a small percentage of enrolled students. Note, students from other universities are welcome to apply and enroll in SBI. 

See Can students from other schools attend the program?

Admission decisions will be sent to students via the on-line application portal, typically within 2-3 weeks of submitting all required application materials.

Interested Villanova students should discuss SBI with their academic advisor to ensure they understand how SBI credits will be handled within their school. Additionally, students from outside Villanova should discuss this opportunity with the appropriate advisor(s) at their home institution.

Villanova students who successfully complete SBI earn a business minor. Students from other universities earn an SBI certificate. In both cases, the SBI experience will broaden skill sets, strengthen academic foundations, build  professional confidence, improve problem solving and decision making skills, and serve as an impressive credential on resumes.

Yes! SBI is a gateway to the same resources as students’ VSB peers, such as the VSB Mentor Program, or academic courses; upon successful completion of SBI, program graduates may be approved for upper-level VSB classes and/or pursue a discipline-specific minor.

Absolutely! The Summer Business Institute is open to qualified students from any accredited school or university located in the United States or abroad*. SBI can also help recent non-business graduates gain business insights that can help them be more productive in their first job. *Note: International students must be matriculated in a full-time course of study at a U.S. institution while applying to SBI.

Tuition for SBI 2025 is $16,250, which also includes textbooks for the duration of the respective course module. For students accepted into the program, a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $500 is required; this deposit is applied towards the program's tuition. Instructions for submitting the enrollment deposit will be included in the applicant’s offer of admission notice.