Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township (Radnor Township, Pennsylvania), a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Named for Saint Thomas of Villanova (Thomas of Villanova), the school is the oldest and largest Catholic (Roman Catholic Church) university in the Commonwealth (Commonwealth (U.S. state)) of Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine, the university traces its roots to old Saint Augustines Church (St. Augustine Church, Philadelphia), Philadelphia, which the Augustinian friars founded in 1796, and to its parish school, Saint Augustines Academy, which was established in 1811.