Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
90.4%
Acceptance Rate
$12,750
Avg Cost (In-State)
$33,780
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
45.4%
Graduation Rate
17,514
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
February 1
Early Deadline
December 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
0
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$50
Interview
Not required
Essays: No essay required for admission; optional personal statement may be submitted
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$46,732
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$54,914
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
45%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | $34,303 | $51,907 | 287 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | $35,716 | $54,390 | 274 |
| Criminology. | $37,255 | $56,659 | 272 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | $37,645 | $47,604 | 262 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $76,527 | $90,917 | 254 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | $46,359 | $55,889 | 237 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $46,680 | $61,442 | 210 |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other. | $70,620 | $81,077 | 208 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Old Dominion University
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Old Dominion University
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
JMU Madison Achievement Scholarship
$1,000-$3,000/year
universityJMU students demonstrating academic merit + need.
Deadline: March 1
Learn more ↗Old Dominion University Monarch Award
$3,000-$12,000/year
universityTop ODU freshmen via automatic merit grid.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Hampden-Sydney College Trustee Scholarship
Full tuition + room/board
universityTop H-S incoming freshmen via competitive process; men's college.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗VA Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP)
Tuition + fees waived at VA publics
stateVA veterans' spouses/children with service-connected death/disability.
Deadline: Through VA Dept of Veterans Services
Learn more ↗Old Dominion Monarch Distinguished Scholarship
Full tuition + room/board
universityTop ODU freshmen via competitive process; academic + leadership.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Hampton University Presidential Scholarship
Up to full tuition
universityTop Hampton incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗JMU Centennial Scholars Program
Full cost of attendance + mentor + summer programs
universityJMU underrepresented incoming freshmen with academic merit + leadership.
Deadline: Through JMU admission
Learn more ↗Virginia Tech University Honors Scholarship
$3,000-$8,000/year
universityVT Honors College students with top academic profile.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗UVA McIntire Commerce School Scholarships
$1,000-$10,000/year (various)
universityMcIntire Commerce students with academic merit (3rd/4th year).
Deadline: February 1
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 90.4% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
90.36%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
35.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
32.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
86.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
39.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
27.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
78.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
56.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Considered
Visiting, attending info sessions and opening admissions emails meaningfully helps your chances. Track your touchpoints.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO
90.5% acceptance
Both admit around 91% of applicants, with 13k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX
90.3% acceptance
Both admit around 90% of applicants, with 18k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS
90.3% acceptance
Both admit around 90% of applicants, with 10k undergrads and a r campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
81.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (82% vs 90%) but out-of-state cost runs $9k — meaningfully less than $34k.
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
Atlanta, GA
90.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (91% vs 90%) but out-of-state cost runs $10k — meaningfully less than $34k.
Austin Community College
Austin, TX
100% acceptance
Similar selectivity (100% vs 90%) but out-of-state cost runs $11k — meaningfully less than $34k.
Reaches above this college
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA
14% acceptance
Same u setting in the South, but more selective (14% vs 90%) — a stretch target if Old Dominion University is already on your list.
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
12.9% acceptance
Same u setting in the South, but more selective (13% vs 90%) — a stretch target if Old Dominion University is already on your list.
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
11% acceptance
Same u setting in the South, but more selective (11% vs 90%) — a stretch target if Old Dominion University is already on your list.
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