Old Dominion University

old dominion university accreditation

Old Dominion University Online Degree Programs

Old Dominion University appears in our ranking of the 30 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s In Finance.

ODU has been a leader in distance learning programs for the last 20 years through its extensive use of traditional broadcast media. Now all of its distance learning courses are available for online access exclusively. ODU students can earn online undergraduate degrees in subjects like accounting, communication and computer science. ODU’s graduate-level online degree programs, like the ones for aerospace engineering and public administration, are also gaining in popularity.

ODU’s online Master of Science (M.S.) in Aerospace Engineering allows students to explore advanced concepts in the design and development of air and spacecraft systems. This program’s courses are taught in a synchronous format that allows students to meet virtually for scheduled class meetings. Some of the core course topics of the program include fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and space systems engineering. Key benefits of studying aerospace engineering online at ODU include select research and internship opportunities with key government partners like NASA Langley Research Center and the Naval Research Laboratory.

The online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program offered by ODU is presented in a format that allows students to study at their own pace, however, homework assignments and exams are scheduled by professors. Some course topics that students can expect to take during the MPA program are public budgeting, policy and research methods. A key benefit for this comprehensive Old Dominion University degree program is its flexible fit for those who are currently working in public administration jobs as well as those who want to cross over into the profession.

About Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public university located in Norfolk, Virginia; its name is derived from one of the state’s nicknames given to it for its consistent loyalty to the British crown. The school was formed as a branch of the College of William and Mary that is located in nearby Williamsburg, Virginia. While ODU now offers over 168 degree programs in a variety of disciplines, its academic beginnings were rooted in training future engineers and teachers.

ODU’s undergraduate and graduate level degree programs are administered through six colleges that include the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Business, Education, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences and Sciences. Today, ODU is most known for its research contributions to science and technology as well as its comprehensive distance learning degree program offerings which it began in 2003. The school’s prominent location in Virginia’s Tidewater area made it a natural setting for maritime research activities.

Norfolk is home to one of the country’s largest naval bases, and ODU staff and students participate in Department of Defense themed research activities, like those for modeling and simulation, through its Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center. The school’s military ties are further strengthened by its Army and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps programs offered on campus. ODU is also marked by new campus construction for classrooms, libraries and student housing which is in sharp contrast to its modest beginnings in an old neighborhood school building.

Old Dominion University Accreditation Details

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS/COC) provides regional accreditation for all ODU degree programs. However, the university has several specialized accreditation credentials that are degree program specific. For example, ODU’s undergraduate business degree programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International, and its graduate program in public administration is accredited by the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Details about regional and specialty accreditation credentials can be found on the school’s website; the site shows the accreditation organization’s name, date of original accreditation and the last date of reaffirmation for each associated degree program.

Old Dominion University Application Requirements

One of the first steps to getting started in one of the many traditional and distance learning programs offered by ODU is to visit the school’s admissions office in person or online. Students who are arriving as first-time freshmen, transferring to ODU from other undergraduate universities or seeking a second undergraduate degree can apply for admission through the school’s undergraduate admissions office.

There are six basic steps in the application process according to ODU’s admissions staff.

  • The first step is academic preparedness. Students who want to attend ODU as undergraduates should prepare by taking sufficient high school level courses in English, the natural sciences, mathematics, social studies, and foreign languages.
  • The second step is to find out about the application deadlines for their academic status, type of admission consideration and the term in which they would like to begin their studies. For example, a transfer student who wants to attend an undergraduate program in the Fall semester as part of the regular admission consideration must complete the application process by the first of August; early action admission candidates have a deadline of March 15th.
  • The third step is to access ODU’s undergraduate admissions application that is processed completely online. After a student creates a username and password, they can complete the online application at their own pace.
  • The fourth step in the application process is for students to pay the $50 non-refundable application fee, submit high school transcripts or equivalent and send in standardized test scores to admissions officials. Letters of recommendation, resumes, advanced placement test scores and essays are optional. Also, some degree programs like those in health and environmental sciences require an additional application.
  • The fifth step is to download an in-state tuition application for financial aid.
  • The last step is to check admission status via the confirmation number given after applications, fees and documents are received by admissions staff.

Although application requirements and submission deadlines differ, ODU’s undergraduate and graduate admission application process is very similar. Graduate students and doctoral degree candidates must consult specific academic departments to find out about application deadlines and any supplemental information that is needed for their applications.

Students who want to apply to undergraduate or graduate distance learning degree programs must first talk to a site director at one of the 50 ODU distance learning sites across the country. The admissions staff will then review students’ transcripts, and the students can apply to their program of choice online. The deadline for application submission for distance learning programs is the first of August unless otherwise specified by a particular program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The most commonly asked question for college-bound students is how much will it cost to obtain their desired university degree. ODU provides potential students and their parents with a straightforward per credit hour tuition rate as well as tools to help them to easily estimate other associated costs of attendance. For example, the undergraduate tuition rate for Virginia residents is $316 per credit hour for traditional and designated online degree programs; out of state students can expect to pay $874 per credit hour for the same programs. Graduate school for Virginia residents costs $464 per credit hour and $1160 per credit hour for out of state residents for campus-based and many distance learning degree programs. Most students get financial aid to pay for their tuition and other educational costs. The common forms of financial aid available to all ODU students are grants, scholarships, work-study jobs and loans.

Old Dominion University is an established university offering unique opportunities to students both on-campus and online.