Old Dominion University

Norfolk has a rich maritime history and culture. It also has Old Dominion University and, if you are looking for a post-secondary education in Virginia, ODU just might be the school for you. Although its U.S. News and World Reports ranking as a university is not published, the graduate school in education is listed in the top 100 programs of its type in the nation. The school began in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of William and Mary University but became independent in the 1960s.

Old Dominion University has an undergraduate student body of just less than 20,000, but most classes have between 20 and 40 students and the student-to-faculty rate is 20:1, so there is still ample opportunity for interaction with teachers. You can choose from more than 300 student organizations and fraternities and sororities as well as exploring activities in the city of Norfolk.

There are 144 miles of coastline and a plethora of water activities as well as cultural and shopping opportunities. The university activities will keep you busy too. The university participates in the Tidewater Writing project which is a part of the National Writing project that encourages students to write and publish with the goal of improving writing in America. ODU also houses the Center for Acce4erator Science and the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and simulation Center. Research is a priority at the school. ODU also offers cuktu7ral advantages through the Gordon Art Galleries, theater and special speakers.

Old Dominion University Accreditation Details

• The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
• The School of Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Council of ABET
• The Strome College of Business is accredited by AACSB
• The Darden College of Education, the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Sciences are accredited by the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education.
• In addition, individual programs are accredited by various professional organizations.

Old Dominion University Application Requirements

If you are applying to the university as a freshman, you will need to keep some important dates in mind. The deadline for early-decision applicants is December 1st and August 1st is the cutoff for regular applicants. You will need to fill out an application that is available from the school or online, and submit it along with other documents and a non-refundable $50 fee for application processing. You will also need your official high school transcript and the official report of your ACT or SAT scores. You can send a resume of your activities in high school if you like, and a 400-word personal essay, but these are optional.

If you are enrolling as a dual-degree student, you will need to send your official AP scores or the transcript from the school at which you earned your first degree.

At ODU, there is a test-optional selection in which that allows students who maintained a minimum GPA of 3.3 to be considered for admission without their ACT or SAT scores being considered, but the scores of those tests could still be used to apply for scholarships. If you are transferring from another university or college, you will need to submit your official transcript and one to three letters of recommendation.

Admission to the university doesn't guarantee that you will be admitted to a specific program. Graduate students, for instance, must still meet the requisites of their departments. After you are admitted, you will be assessed a non-refundable fee of $200 to hold your place in the class, but that amount will be applied to your tuition and fees.

Tuition and Financial Aid

If you are an undergraduate and live in Virginia, full-time tuition is $316 per credit hour. Out-of-state undergraduate tuition is $345 per credit hour. With the addition of fees and housing, an undergraduate program at Old Dominion costs about $21,024 per year. Active-duty military members who are stationed in Virginia may qualify for resident tuition. Graduate tuition for Virginia residents is $464 per credit hour and for non-resident students, graduate tuition is $501. You will also need to consider the costs of books and transportation, along with other incidental expenses.

Few people can afford to pay for their college educations without some financial assistance. There are several types of aid for which you may qualify. The first step is to fill out your FAFSA application. That is a free federal form that uses your financial profile to determine your family's contribution to your education. When that amount is subtracted from the cost of your education the resulting figure is your financial need. The FAFSA also matches you to federal assistance for which you qualify, such as the Pell Grant. You will need to submit your FAFSA by February 15. After you receive your notification of your family contribution amount and you federal awards, you will need to apply for other grants and scholarships. There is a list of some of these on the Old Dominion website. There are also private and corporate scholarships available that you can research on the Internet.

Old Dominion, however, has a program called "Packaging" which assists you in meeting the remainder of your financial obligation to the school by helping you find other resources for which you qualify. If there is still a shortfall, you might consider student loans from federal, state or private lenders and work-study programs.

Online Degree(s) Available

Online Master of Science in Education

Many degree programs at Old Dominion University are offered in both traditional and online formats. For example, you might pursue the Online Master of Science in Education. This is actually a degree in educational leadership. If you are applying to this program, you will need two letters of recommendation, one from the principal at the school where you are employed and another from a supervisor, and meet other requisites. The program prepares you for leadership positions in K-12 education. You will be taking classes such as Strategic Leadership and Management for Improvement in Education and Educational Politics and Policymaking. The ODU online program is so effective that it has a 96 per cent satisfaction rate. In addition, as a graduate student in an Old Dominion University online degree program you will receive the same quality advisor input and availability as traditional students receive.