Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University is a public, state school in an urban setting in Norfolk, Virginia. ODU was founded in 1930 and now enrolls around 24,286 students a year, including 19,622 undergrads. ODU provides on-campus housing for up to 4,873 students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 16% of students spend their weekends on campus .

There are many ways for students to get involved at ODU! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of ODU's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? ODU students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? ODU has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? ODU has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at ODU on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at ODU on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! February 1, 2022 is the final deadline to submit an application for Fall.

Is ODU a Good School?

Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how competitive an institution is, but they don't tell you how happy or successful students are. There are a few statistics that can give you a good idea of how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its students.

Let's take a look at to get a clearer idea of what ODU offers and if it sounds like the right college for you.

2021 Acceptance Rate for Old Dominion University

It is moderately difficult to get into ODU. The acceptance rate at ODU is 95%. Last year, 13,651 students applied to ODU and 13,024 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at ODU

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at ODU, around 76% return for the next year. ODU's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 53%. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for ODU Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers. Within six months of graduating, 25% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

Recent ODU grads have an average starting salary of $46,850 a year. The average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year, though these numbers vary widely by major.

ODU's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2021, the total market value of the school endowment was $272.1 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $9,953 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at ODU

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. ODU meets 43% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $11,797 a year.

Students in the class of 2021 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $27,654 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at ODU. Based on this information, how does ODU sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is ODU a good school for you?

If Old Dominion University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Doing Your Research?

To learn more about ODU, choose from the options below:

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

ODU Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting accepted at some of the most selective schools in the U.S.

Where is Old Dominion University Located?

ODU is located in the urban setting of Norfolk, Virginia, less than an hour from Virginia Beach.

If you want to see ODU for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 64 and Interstate 264 to Norfolk, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Norfolk International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what ODU and Norfolk are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in Virginia?

See a full list of colleges in Virginia and save your favorites to your college list.