PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Villanova's Presidential Scholars Program is a premier full scholarship program inspired by St. Augustine—who pursued truth (veritas) through faith, taught leadership through love (caritas) and sought change through community (unitas).

The program's goal is to recruit, train and support transformational leaders to follow St. Augustine’s example and to build upon the positive work of the Presidential Scholars who came before them.

The nomination form for the Fall 2024 entering class is now OPEN. Nominations ARE due by 11:59 PM (EST) on December 1, 2023.

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

The Presidential Scholarship is a renewable, merit-based award covering undergraduate Villanova University tuition (fall and spring semesters), on-campus room, board (meal plan includes up to 21 meals per week), the general fee, and the cost of textbooks to the completion of one undergraduate degree or up to eight semesters, whichever comes first. Twenty-five Presidential Scholarships are offered annually.

Application Process

FAQs

Program Oversight

Nomination Instructions and Forms

Program Policies

Selection Criteria

Professional Development Award

DEADLINES AND DATES

Below are the annual deadlines and key dates for Presidential Scholar Program applicants.

December 1

Nomination Form must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (EST)

December 5

All required application materials for admission must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) in order to be eligible to apply for the Presidential Scholarship.

JANUARY 2

Presidential Scholarship application (eight short-answer essay responses) must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST).

Note: Villanova requires applicants to submit both their Common Application essay and two short Villanova Essays.

Other Important Dates: 2023-2024 Application Cycle

January 2024

All applicants will be notified of their status in late-January to early-February.

February 2024

On-Campus Interview Program for Presidential Scholarship finalists.

March 2024

All finalists will be notified of their status by the end of the month.

May 1, 2024

Decision due.

ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS

Presidential Scholars are transformational leaders—representing diverse intellectual, social, ethnic and economic backgrounds—who have demonstrated a love of learning and a commitment to enhancing both their local and broader civic communities.

Free from most of the financial burdens of undergraduate education, Scholars are encouraged to focus on academic excellence and to seek a life of service and meaning. Hear from our graduates about the impact the PSP had on them.

Chloe Benson
'21 CLAS

Major: Communication & Peace and Justice

"Being an Underrepresented Presidential Scholar completely changed my life, by providing me with a community of peers, professors and staff members that supported my growth and development during my time at Villanova. As a UPS scholar, I explored my passions through academic research in Rhetorical Studies and experiential studies and interned abroad opportunities in Rome, Italy where I worked as an intern at a UN agency."

Brandon Nash
'22 VSB

Major: Finance

"From RUIBAL, to Blue Key, to leading clubs, to mentoring younger students, I consistently made sure to pay it forward. I formed relationships that I know will last forever, and I became what I was not yet. And now, the journey is ongoing. Being a Presidential Scholar is a never-ending process of growth, learning, love and making the world a better place. Every morning I wake up, I live out the values and lessons I learned during my time at Villanova and seek to be a business leader for a better world."

Leah Waltrip
'20 CLAS

Major: Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience

"As a Presidential Scholar, I was challenged from day one by my peers to do something that was bigger than myself. Being a part of a community that saw the importance of pushing each other to grow, not only for our own sake but for the sake of the University and our peers around us, made my Villanova experience so profoundly important. These connections are what pushed me to ask myself over and over again, 'How can I give back?'"