Home Colleges Virginia Old Dominion University
Public 4-Year Minimally Selective Norfolk, VA NCAA Division I-FBS

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA

91.3%
Acceptance Rate
$32,988/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$14,638/yr
Avg Price After Aid
45.4%
6-yr Grad Rate
17,514
Undergrads

About Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia, situated in a midsize city setting. The university enrolls 17,514 undergraduates and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
17,514
Avg Faculty Salary
$94,974
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
Endowment
$319.8M
Pell Students
36.8%
First-Gen
33.2%
What Old Dominion University Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Mental and Social Health Services and... 143 graduates · 4.1% of degrees here vs 0.01% nationally 276×
Rhetoric and Composition 117 graduates · 3.3% of degrees here vs 0.05% nationally 64×
Computer and Information Systems... 249 graduates · 7.1% of degrees here vs 0.59% nationally 12×
Criminology 167 graduates · 4.8% of degrees here vs 0.42% nationally 11×
Management Information Systems 114 graduates · 3.3% of degrees here vs 0.35% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
91.3%
Acceptance rate · Minimally Selective
15,216
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$14,638 avg net
Average net price after aid
$9,739
Under $30K income
$319.8M
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$46,732 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
45.4%
6-yr Grad Rate
$24,000
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Old Dominion University Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
91.3%
15,216 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
13:1
Undergrad instruction

Old Dominion University admits 91.3% of applicants, indicating a non-selective admissions process where most students meeting basic requirements gain acceptance. The admitted student body has an average high school GPA of 3.43 and middle 50% SAT ranges of 580-660 (reading/writing) and 540-630 (math).

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 15,216 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1100–1280
40080012001600
GPA Distribution — Enrolled Students
8-band breakdown · Source: Common Data Set
4.0
0.19%
3.75–3.99
0.13%
3.50–3.74
0.15%
3.25–3.49
0.15%
3.00–3.24
0.13%
2.50–2.99
0.25%
2.00–2.49
Below 2.0

Admissions Requirements

Admission Factor Weights
Official weights from submitted institutional data · Source: Common Data Set, section C7
Rigor of coursework Very Important
Class rank Very Important
Academic GPA Very Important
Standardized test scores Very Important
Application essay Considered
Recommendations Important
Extracurricular activities Important
Talent / special ability Important
Character / personal qualities Important
First generation status Considered
Alumni relation Considered
Geographic residence Considered
Volunteer work Considered
Work experience Considered
Class Rank Profile
25% of students submitted rank · Source: Common Data Set
Top 10th of class
0.12%
Top quarter
0.35%
Top half
0.71%
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 6,813 6,082 89.3% 1,254
Women 8,390 7,679 91.5% 1,460
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Old Dominion University admits 90.4% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
90.4%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
VA (51)
79.8%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Old Dominion University Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$14,638
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$24,000
Federal Loan Rate
40.6%
Students borrowing federal loans

Old Dominion University's cost of attendance is $32,988, but the average net price students pay is $14,638, meaning most students pay considerably less than the sticker price.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$32,988
In-state Tuition & Fees
$12,750
39%
Room & Board
$14,878
45%
Books & Supplies
$1,800
5%
Other Expenses
$3,560
11%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$9,739
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,114
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,123
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,940
Over $110,000
$23,567
Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
87%
Federal loans
41%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $254.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Old Dominion University costs $14,638 a year — about 0% more than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$29,446
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
VA (85)
$31,646
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (25)
$30,055
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
86.9%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
VA (101)
86.9%
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (30)
83.7%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$24,000
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
VA (102)
$19,475
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (31)
$14,873
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$14,638
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
VA (114)
$19,337
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (35)
$19,096
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Old Dominion University Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
45.4%
Median Earnings 6yr
$46,732
6 years after entering

Old Dominion University has a graduation rate of 45.4%, with graduates earning a median of $46,732 six years after entry and $54,914 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$50,801
Men
$43,993
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
39.3%
Pell recipients
49.8%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Psychology, General352
Computer and Information Systems...249
Biology/Biological Sciences, General186
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse184
Business Administration and Management,...180
Criminology167
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other158
Mental and Social Health Services and...143
Engineering/Engineering-Related...139
Health Professions and Related Clinical...117
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
58.8%
White
51.6%
Hispanic
44%
Black
42.3%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Old Dominion University are $51,738, and 68% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Old Dominion University students earn $46,732 — 1% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$54,914
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
VA (112)
$44,235
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (33)
$38,342
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$46,732
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
VA (117)
$36,455
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (35)
$33,145
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
45.4%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
VA (51)
55.7%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
76.4%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
VA (51)
76.1%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Old Dominion University Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Old Dominion University is a public institution located in Norfolk, a midsize city in Virginia, with an undergraduate enrollment of 17,514 students. The student body includes 54.2% women, 36.8% Pell grant recipients, and 33.2% first-generation students.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
40.6%
Asian
5.4%
Hispanic
11.3%
Black
31.9%
Other Indicators
First-generation
33.2%
Pell grant recipients
36.8%
Women
54.2%
Old Dominion University Athletics
Total Revenue
$15.1M
Total Expense
$15.1M
Athletes
476
258 men · 218 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$303,582
Women's sports
$132,271

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$6,470,014
Women's aid
$4,730,035
Academic Resources
1,029
Full-time faculty
$94,974
Avg faculty salary
13,299
FT staff
$319.8M
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$106,679
Women (avg)
$83,782
Overall avg
$94,974
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
17,514
Graduate students
5,997
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
3.5%

476 of 13,567 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
31.5%
Undergrads taking any
69.2%
Grad students fully online
57.5%

5,587 of 17,736 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 2,763 of 4,805 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median
Pell grant share
This school
36.8%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
VA (125)
38.3%
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (36)
46.1%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$6,627
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
VA (75)
$6,583
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (19)
$6,627
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
13:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
VA (126)
14:1
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC (36)
14.5:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Old Dominion University
54 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
3,506 graduates
Health Professions 562 grads · 8 majors
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 184
Mental and Social Health Services and... 143
Health Professions and Related Clinical... 117
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 41
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language... 33
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical... 19
Public Health, General 18
Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist 7
Business and Marketing 557 grads · 6 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 180
Management Information Systems, General 114
Finance, General 106
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 85
Accounting 65
Management Sciences and Quantitative... 7
Computer and Information Sciences 365 grads · 2 majors
Computer and Information Systems... 249
Computer and Information Sciences, General 116
Psychology 352 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 352
Social Sciences 291 grads · 4 majors
Criminology 167
Sociology, General 60
Political Science and Government, General 46
International Relations and Affairs 18
Education 209 grads · 6 majors
Elementary Education and Teaching 94
Teacher Education and Professional... 42
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 37
Special Education and Teaching, General 28
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 5
Technology Teacher Education/Industrial... 3
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 192 grads · 2 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 186
Biochemistry 6
Engineering 190 grads · 5 majors
Mechanical Engineering 104
Civil Engineering, General 39
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 26
Computer Engineering, General 17
Engineering, General 4
English Language and Literature 174 grads · 2 majors
Rhetoric and Composition 117
English Language and Literature, General 57
Multidisciplinary Studies 172 grads · 2 majors
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 158
Geography and Environmental Studies 14
Engineering Technologies 139 grads · 1 major
Engineering/Engineering-Related... 139
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 109 grads · 3 majors
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 43
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 40
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities... 26
Visual and Performing Arts 76 grads · 4 majors
Art/Art Studies, General 50
Music Performance, General 12
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 9
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 5
History 37 grads · 1 major
History, General 37
Physical Sciences 31 grads · 3 majors
Geological and Earth... 18
Physics, General 8
Chemistry, General 5
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 22 grads · 1 major
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 22
Mathematics and Statistics 14 grads · 1 major
Mathematics, General 14
Philosophy and Religious Studies 9 grads · 1 major
Philosophy 9
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 5 grads · 1 major
Asian Studies/Civilization 5
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Old Dominion University Location & Campus Safety

Old Dominion University is in Norfolk, VA, in what IPEDS classifies as a midsize city setting. The campus sits about 4.3 miles from the center of Norfolk. There are 8 other colleges within 25 miles, and Virginia Beach, VA is 17 miles away.

Old Dominion University Other colleges within 30 miles
Midsize city
Campus Setting
4.3 mi
To City Center
8
Colleges Within 25 mi
235,037
Norfolk Population
Living in Norfolk
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,246
Median Rent / mo
$64,017
Median Household Income
31.7%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
71.7%
Walk
5.2%
Public transit
2.8%

Norfolk City scores 13.1 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 8.2% of Norfolk's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near Old Dominion University
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Hampton University 3,727 students 9.4 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, Old Dominion University to each campus

Campus Safety at Old Dominion University

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Old Dominion University reported for 2024.

58
On-Campus Offenses
21
In Residence Halls
2.4
Per 1,000 Students
35
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
41
2023
40
2024
58
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Motor vehicle theft
25
Sexual offenses
17
Aggravated assault
13
Robbery
3

Separately, Old Dominion University reported 17 arrests and 131 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Old Dominion University admissions, costs, and outcomes.