Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Old Dominion University #155 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,472, placing Old Dominion University in the 64.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with earn about $3,188 more than similar students at comparable institutions placing the university in the 70.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Old Dominion University #122 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Old Dominion University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of graduates earning more than similar students at comparable institutions, anchored by health and professional programs with strong labor-market demand in the Hampton Roads region and beyond. The university's mobility standing underscores how effectively Old Dominion converts broad access — serving a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — into durable post-graduation outcomes.
Azimuth ranks Old Dominion University #155 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University enrolls roughly 17,514 undergraduates. Retention stands at 76.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 46.3%, figures that reflect a large institution still working to convert enrollment into degree completion at higher rates. The composite is anchored by mobility. Old Dominion University sits in the 91.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 36.8% receive Pell Grants and 33.2% are first-generation college students — a broad-access profile that, combined with solid post-graduation earnings for low-income graduates, places the university among stronger mobility performers nationally. Health is the dominant program family, and the institution's program mix channels a meaningful share of graduates into stable, in-demand career pathways. Old Dominion University admits about 90.4% of applicants, reinforcing its role as an accessible entry point for students across VA and the Hampton Roads region. Return on investment is the weaker pillar. Azimuth ranks Old Dominion University #609 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,188 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Old Dominion University in the 70.8 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 70.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and access in the 83.5 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions — both mid-range positions that reflect moderate net prices and the institution's open-admissions posture working in tandem.
Old Dominion University's published cost of attendance is $29,446, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,739 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $13,123, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,567. Azimuth ranks Old Dominion University #421 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Old Dominion University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply for need-based assistance through the FAFSA. The gap between the published cost of attendance and what most families actually pay reflects the net price illusion that characterizes many public universities — sticker price and net price can differ substantially, particularly for lower- and middle-income households. Families weighing affordability should focus on the net price figures above rather than the headline cost of attendance when comparing Old Dominion University with peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,866; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,472, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Old Dominion University is a strong fit for students drawn to health, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a public research university experience in Norfolk, VA, with a clear path to stable post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,472, placing Old Dominion University in the 64.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $3,188 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Old Dominion University in the 70.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a broad mix of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 36.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 33.2% are first-generation — and the aid structure, combined with a net price of $23,567 for higher-income families, keeps costs within reach for many households. Median student debt at graduation is $24,000, a figure that reflects the university's public-tuition structure and broad financial-aid reach. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and applied professional fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and students who plan to remain in the Hampton Roads region or broader Mid-Atlantic labor market will benefit most from Old Dominion's strong local employer relationships.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Old Dominion University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Old Dominion University's published cost of attendance is $29,446, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,739 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $13,123, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,567.
Azimuth ranks Old Dominion University #421 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Old Dominion University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply for need-based assistance through the FAFSA. The gap between the published cost of attendance and what most families actually pay reflects the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) that characterizes many public universities — sticker price and net price can differ substantially, particularly for lower- and middle-income households.
Families weighing affordability should focus on the net price figures above rather than the headline cost of attendance when comparing Old Dominion University with peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,866; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,472, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Old Dominion University earn median earnings of $64,472 four years after enrollment, placing Old Dominion University in the 64.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $3,188 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Old Dominion University in the 70.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to VA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,020, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
Old Dominion University's degree output leans toward Health, which accounts for 13% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 11% and Education at 7%. The highest aggregate-return major is Nursing, combining substantial enrollment with solid earnings.
Among the strongest individual programs, Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #126 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 316 graduates earning median earnings of $51,907. Azimuth ranks Nursing #108 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 222 graduates earning median earnings of $90,917.
Azimuth ranks Interdisciplinary Studies #54 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $55,889 — 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. Criminology and Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies round out the top earners, with Azimuth ranking them #9 and #5 respectively for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Colorado Boulder Similar quality tier (#4308 ranked) | CO | 78% | $69,738 | #4308 | Compare |
University Of New Mexico-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#4306 ranked) | NM | 95% | $44,792 | #4306 | Compare |
Virginia Commonwealth University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4313 ranked) | VA | 93% | $58,128 | #4313 | Compare |
University Of Iowa Similar quality tier (#4316 ranked) | IA | 84% | $64,762 | #4316 | Compare |
North Carolina A & T State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4301 ranked) | NC | 50% | $44,440 | #4301 | Compare |
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
44 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
108 graduates
Computer Engineering
19 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
222 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
114 graduates
Old Dominion University's program mix is anchored in Health, business, and applied professional fields — a portfolio shaped by the university's position as a large public research institution in the Hampton Roads region. Psychology, General is the largest program with 316 graduates, followed by Nursing, Interdisciplinary Studies, Criminology, and Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Across 36 ranked programs serving roughly 3,748 students annually, the strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health, engineering, and computing fields. The highest four-year earnings at Old Dominion University come from Nursing, where 222 graduates earn median earnings of $90,917 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #108 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other follows with 141 graduates earning $81,077, and Azimuth ranks it #3 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Business Administration program graduates 147 students with median earnings of $61,442, and Azimuth ranks the program #282 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Nursing combines strong enrollment scale with solid pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall earnings profile. Criminology and Subject-Specific Teacher Education represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly — four-year earnings of $56,659 and $56,564 respectively reflect labor-market demand in technical and applied fields.
By contrast, programs like Interdisciplinary Studies and Criminology serve larger cohorts but produce more moderate early-career earnings, a pattern consistent with fields where career trajectories steepen over time or where graduate study extends the payoff horizon. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Old Dominion University's strongest program families align with national wage trends, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates individual programs. ```
