 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (January 2024) |
 | |
Former names | Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary (1930–1962) Old Dominion College (1962–1969) |
|---|---|
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | March 13, 1930 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
Academic affiliations | |
| Endowment | $265.8 million (2020)[1] |
| President | Brian Hemphill |
Academic staff | 867 |
| Students | 23,494[2] |
| Undergraduates | 16,678 |
| Postgraduates | 4,816 |
| Location | , , United States 36°53′12″N 76°18′19″W / 36.88654°N 76.30522°W |
| Campus | Midsize city, 251 acres (1.02 km2) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | Mace & Crown |
| Colors | Monarch blue, silver, and Hudson blue |
| Nickname | Monarchs |
Sporting affiliations | |
| Mascot | Big Blue |
| Website | www |
 | |
Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia. Established in 1930 as the two-year Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, it began by educating people with fewer financial assets in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area of the Hampton Roads region.[3] Later Virginia Polytechnic Institute also began offering classes for the Division. The Division became independent from William and Mary in 1962 and has since expanded into a residential college for traditional students and is one of the largest universities in Virginia with an enrollment of 23,494 students for the 2023 academic year. The university also enrolls over 600 international students from 99 countries.[4] Its main campus covers 250 acres (1.0 km2) straddling the city neighborhoods of Larchmont, Highland Park, and Lambert's Point, approximately five miles (8.0 km) north of Downtown Norfolk along the Elizabeth River.
The university offers 175 undergraduate and graduate degree programs from seven colleges and three schools. Deriving its name from one of Virginia's state nicknames, "The Old Dominion", given to the state by King Charles II of England for remaining loyal to the crown during the English Civil War, Old Dominion has approximately 165,000 alumni in all 50 states and 67 countries.
ODU has a Carnegie Classification of "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".[5] According to the National Science Foundation, ODU spent $73.6 million on research and development in 2021. For 2024-2025, WSJ/College Pulse ranked Old Dominion #501-600 out of U.S. universities while US News & World Report ranked the university #278 out of U.S. universities and #973 out of global universities.[6][7]
- ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "University Facts & Figures - Old Dominion University". Odu.edu. April 2023. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ "History & Archives". Old Dominion University. 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "University Facts & Figures". Old Dominion University. 30 August 2022. Archived from the original on 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ "Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup". carnegieclassifications.iu.edu. Center for Postsecondary Education. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "Old Dominion University". US News & World Report (2024-2025 Indicators).
- ^ https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/old-dominion-3728/overall-rankings