Old Dominion University had an acceptance rate of 86% for admissions. The university offered around 24,176 students admissions. Out of these, 19,372 were enrolled in various undergraduate programs. The remaining 4,804 were enrolled in various graduate and professional programs.It has 3 extended higher educational centers for students. There are over 700 international students at Old Dominion University, from over 89 countries.

ODU has eight academic colleges and one graduate school, offering more than 150 degree programs on-campus. The university also provides online programs for over 100 courses. Approximately, it has 91 bachelor's degrees and 41 master's degrees. The university also offers 22 doctoral degree programs. 

The university offers around 156 academic programs to students. Some of the popular courses for graduates include Psychology, Nursing, and Criminology. Admissions are offered at Old Dominion University during the Fall and Spring sessions. 

  • Old Dominion University calls freshmen for two seasons, i.e. Fall, and Spring, while Transfer students can take admissions into the university in the Fall, Spring, and Summer seasons
  • Applications are invited on a rolling basis.
  • 87% of applicants submit their SAT scores, while just 13% submit their ACT scores.
  • Beginning with fall applicants, Old Dominion University uses self-reported ACT or SAT scores to make admission and scholarship decisions.
  • The Office of Admissions reserves the right to reevaluate an applicant’s admission or scholarship decision upon receipt of official test scores.
  • After six months, 94% of graduates are employed or in a graduate school taking higher studies. The university has been named as the 17th largest employer in Hampton Roads.

Highlights

Application Portal UG: Common Application/ODU Application Portal
PG: ODU Application Portal
Application Fee 50 USD (Non-Refundable)
Acceptance Rate 86%
Mode of Payment Online
ACT Score 18-25
SAT Score 980-1200
GPA Required
Academic Calendar Semester wise
Intake Sessions Fall, Spring
Financial Aid Available
International Admissions ODU International

Application Deadlines

Students seeking admission at Old Dominion University must ensure that they submit their applications on or before the given deadlines:

Term/Semester Deadlines
Undergraduate Applications
Early Action December 1
Regular Decision (Fall) Rolling
Regular Decision (Spring) October 1
Graduate Applications
Fall April 15
Spring October 1
Summer February 1

Old Dominion University International Admissions

International applicants are required to meet additional requirements to secure a spot at the university in their preferred course of study. Some of them are:

  • All prior Secondary/High School or College/University transcripts 
  • Diploma or Leaving Certificate.
  • Equivalent U.S. Bachelor's Degree (For graduate admissions)
  • English Language Proficiency Scores for evaluation by the university.
  • Different standardized exams 
    • SAT/ACT optional, though highly recommended
    • Test Scores of GRE/GMAT
  • Passport identification page, if available
  • Financial Documentation (seeking F-1/J-1 visas only)
  • Essay/Personal Statement/Resume
  • Letters of Recommendation to study in US

Old Dominion University Country Specific Requirements

Country Requirements
Australia Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, Year 12 Certificate
Brazil Certificado de Conclusion de Secundo Grau
India Higher Secondary School Certificate
Japan Kotogakko/ Secondary School Diploma of Graduation
Malaysia MCE/SPM
Saudi Arabia General Secondary Certificate
United Kingdom 7-8 GCSEs (O Levels) with grades of A-C and predicted A-Level results in at least 3 subjects. Up to 6-8 credits awarded for A level grades of A-C (up to a maximum of 24 credits); CXCs with grades of 1 or 2.

Visa Requirements

Once the applicant receives the I-20 Form, they must apply for a F-1 /J-1 student visa and pay the required SEVIS fee within two weeks upon receiving the form. The following documents are supposed to be carried mandatorily to the visa interview:

  • Valid passport
  • Original financial documentation
  • All previous or current I-20’s or DS-2019’s
  • Documentation from the academic advisor regarding the classes completed for the degree or if any are incomplete.
  • I-901 SEVIS fee receipt
  • One passport size photograph

Score Requirements for International Students

If your native language is not English, evidence of English proficiency must be demonstrated to enroll in academic, credit-bearing courses. Acceptable scores of exams to study in USA:

Test Score
TOEFL IBT 79
TOEFL Paper-based 550
IELTS 6.5 overall
GRE (verbal reasoning) 150
GRE (Verbal) 480
SAT (Critical Reading) 480
SAT (Reading Test) 26
GCSE or GCE “O” level passes in English
CPE C or Higher
PTE Academic Test 53

Old Dominion University Undergraduate Admissions

The most popular programs at Old Dominion University include BUisness Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Engineering; and Psychology. Details of the admissions procedure at the university are as follows:

Apply: Common Application or ODU Application Portal

Application fee: 50 USD

Documents Required: The following requirements have to be submitted by the freshman applicants:

  • Official High School Transcript or GED Transcript has to be submitted for the admission process (must be kept in its original sealed envelope).
  • Official SAT/ACT scores are required for admission.
  • Apply Test (Optional), only if the applicant wishes to take and submit to the university.
  • Activity Resume can be submitted but not an essential requirement. 
  • 1-3 Letters of Recommendation ( as many as the applicant can manage)
  • Essay of 400 words (max), the topic can be selected by the applicants on their own (Optional)
  • Official AP test scores or Dual Enrollment Transcript can be submitted along with the application form but not necessary.

Note: The University encourages students to participate in a college preparatory program of study. Preference will be given to students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB), honours and college-level dual enrollment courses.

Old Dominion University Graduate Admissions

There are over 63 graduate programs offered by the university. Online programs are also offered and students can pick from the traditional or online courses. Around 4,804 applicants were offered admissions. Some of the commonly opted programs are:

  • Master of Business Administration (application fee: 75 USD)
  • MS in Accounting
  • MS in Computer Science
  • ME in Civil Engineering
  • MA in Applied Sociology

Application Portal: ODU Application Portal

Application Fee: 50 USD

Documents Required: Resume, an essay (personal goals), GMAT/GRE test scores, official transcripts and one LOR

Academic Requirements for International Students: In order to get admission, applicants must submit TOEFL/IELTS scores along with GRE/GMAT.

Minimum scores required for GRE are:

  • Verbal Reasoning: 150
  • Verbal: 480

The competition to get admission at Old Dominion University is not very high, a fair number of promising candidates can get admission into the university. It offers quality academics, a thriving residential community, and some initiatives that keep contributing 2.6 billion USD annually to Virginia's economy.

Students can check the status of their application through our online status check. Overall, admissions at Old Dominion University are moderately difficult in terms of entry requirements, test score submissions and basic fulfilment of eligibility to be considered for admission.

FAQs

Ques. Where do I send my applications and credentials?

Ans. Unless indicated otherwise by the department, application materials and credentials should be sent directly to: Old Dominion University, Office of Graduate Admissions, 1000 Alfred B. Rollins Jr. Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529-0050, or at gradadmit@odu.edu.

Ques. Can any of the department requirements be waived?

Ans. Transcripts from the institutions you received your bachelor’s degree from and beyond cannot be waived. However, it is at the discretion of your Graduate Program Director (GPD) to waive any other application requirements. The GPD will send written verification or an email to the Office of Graduate Admissions approving the removal of certain requirements.

Ques. Should my letters of recommendation be sent electronically or sent through the mail?

Ans. On the application, you will add an email for each of your references. When you do this your references will be able to complete the recommendation electronically and you will have the option to re-notify if necessary after your submission.
Letters of Recommendations can also be sent from your reference directly to the Office Graduate Admissions’ email or through the mail. References can write a stand-alone letter of recommendation or use the Recommendation Form as a guideline and attach a letter to it.

Ques. Can I apply for more than one program at a time?

Ans. Yes. You will have to create a second application. Communication with the program directors in both departments is crucial and students are encouraged to start this conversation as early as possible.

Ques. How long is the entire application process?

Ans. Processing a complete undergraduate application requires 4-6 weeks; a complete graduate application takes 8-10 weeks. Please be mindful that evaluation times may vary during the peak application season.

Ques. What happened if my application is not complete by the deadline?

Ans. You may defer your application up to one year from your initial application entry term by completing the graduate deferment form. Or, the Graduate Program Director may wish to continue the review process past the application deadline date. You also have the option to take up to 12 graduate credits as a Non-Degree seeking student and then roll those courses into a degree-seeking program during the next entry term. You will need to fill out the graduate application again and select “Non-Degree” as both your student type and program of interest. Please note that Non-Degree is not eligible for financial aid.

Ques. Are any scholarships available to international undergraduate students?

Ans. The office of International Admissions offers a competitive, merit-based scholarship, renewable (up to 4 years) for newly admitted, initial Bachelor's degree-seeking international students. For eligible recipients, the ISS scholarship offers between $5,000-$14,000 USD per academic year to be applied to out-of-state tuition costs.​​​​​​