Acceptance Rate
90%
Avg. SAT
1280
75th percentile
“Norfolk's public research engine powering modeling, simulation, and naval engineering amid shipyards and salt breezes.”
Norfolk, VA
Location
Old Dominion University traces its roots to 1930, when it launched as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary before gaining independence in 1962 and adopting its name from Virginia's historic nickname. The school carries a legacy of practical education tailored to the Hampton Roads region's industrial and maritime demands, evolving into a Carnegie-classified R1 research university. Students who thrive here tend to be hands-on learners drawn to applied fields, comfortable in a large public setting with a mix of commuters and residents.
Nestled in Norfolk, a gritty port city buzzing with naval activity, shipbuilding, and waterfront redevelopment, you'll experience urban energy alongside nearby beaches like Virginia Beach just 20 minutes away. The campus hugs the Elizabeth River, offering breezy walks but also exposure to humid summers and occasional traffic snarls from the busy harbor. Tradeoffs include larger class sizes in introductory courses due to the 21,000-plus undergrads and competitive on-campus housing beyond freshman year, though the area's moderate cost of living helps stretch budgets.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Available Online
Degree Levels Offered
ODU shines in engineering through its Batten College, particularly modeling and simulation—the largest such program globally via the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center—alongside cybersecurity, mechanical engineering, and coastal-focused earth sciences. Business students flock to the Strome College for supply chain and finance tracks tied to local ports, while nursing and health professions programs feed into regional hospitals. In classrooms, you'll encounter large lectures for gen-eds that shift to smaller, project-based seminars upper-level, where faculty emphasize real-world applications over pure theory; research undergrads can join Navy-funded labs early.
The intellectual vibe rewards collaboration and problem-solving, with opportunities to design sounding rocket payloads or simulate ship maneuvers. Tradeoffs surface in popular majors like engineering, where core courses fill quickly, and research spots go to those who hustle for them amid the public uni scale.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
17,746 undergrad • 5,997 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
44%
Black / African American
29%
Hispanic / Latino
10%
Asian
5%
Other / Multi-racial
12%
Campus Life
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Campus pulses with Monarch pride around basketball and field hockey games at Chartway Arena, Greek life for about 10% of students, and over 300 clubs from sailing to robotics. A typical week mixes morning classes, afternoon intramurals at the award-winning wellness center, and evenings at waterfront spots like the nearby Waterside District for live music or food trucks. Residential life centers on 13 dorms housing roughly half the undergrads, fostering community in living-learning floors, though many locals commute and head home weekends.
Norfolk's vibe leans energetic and diverse, with easy access to Chrysler Museum art or beach drives, but expect hot, sticky weather much of the year and a social scene more low-key than party-central—think brewery crawls over ragers. The urban edge means venturing off-campus for variety, balanced by the constant harbor hum.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Sun Belt Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
No
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
77%
4 Years Graduation Rate
38%
6 Years Graduation Rate
55%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$54,914
77% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Old Dominion University and return in the fall. 38% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 55% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
38%
4-5 years
17%
6-8 years
2%
Non-grad
43%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$7,239
Acceptance
90%
Undergrads
17,746
4-Year Grad Rate
38%
Endowment
$311M
Norfolk, VA 23529
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