# Old Dominion University

> public, co-educational research university in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.

**Wikidata**: [Q1474100](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1474100)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dominion_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/old-dominion-university

## Summary  
Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public, co‑educational research university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1930, it serves more than 24 000 students and is classified as a doctoral university with very high research activity.

## Key Facts  
- **Founded:** 1930 (inception)【source】  
- **Location:** 5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529, United States; coordinates 36.88654 N, ‑76.30522 W【source】  
- **Type & Classification:** Public university; sea‑grant institution; Carnegie classification “doctoral university: very high research activity” (2021)【source】  
- **Endowment:** $329,751,497 (as of 30 June 2022)【source】  
- **Enrollment:** 24,286 students (Fall 2020); 18,249 full‑time‑equivalent (Fall 2021)【source】  
- **Employees:** 3,240 staff members (Sept 2020)【source】  
- **Admission Rate:** 95 % (2020) with a yield of 24 %【source】  
- **Academic Calendar:** Semester system【source】  
- **Official Website:** https://www.odu.edu (English)【source】  
- **Athletics:** Competes as the Old Dominion Monarchs【source】  
- **Major Memberships:** ORCID, Inc.; Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations; Association of American Colleges and Universities; American Council on Education; Coalition for Networked Information; Association of Public and Land‑grant Universities; American Association of State Colleges and Universities; Council on Governmental Relations【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: What kind of university is Old Dominion University?  
**A:** ODU is a public, co‑educational research university that also holds sea‑grant status and is classified as a doctoral university with very high research activity.  

### Q: Where is Old Dominion University located?  
**A:** The main campus sits at 5115 Hampton Boulevard in Norfolk, Virginia (postal code 23529), on the Atlantic coast of the United States.  

### Q: When was Old Dominion University founded?  
**A:** The university was established in 1930.  

### Q: How many students attend ODU?  
**A:** As of the 2020‑2021 academic year, ODU enrolled roughly 24 000 students, including about 18 000 full‑time‑equivalent students.  

### Q: What are ODU’s major research strengths?  
**A:** ODU is recognized for high research activity across disciplines, especially in computer science, engineering, and maritime/space sciences, supported by its sea‑grant and Virginia Space Grant Consortium affiliations.  

## Why It Matters  
Old Dominion University plays a pivotal role in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the broader Mid‑Atlantic region as a major public research institution. Its sea‑grant designation ties it to critical maritime research, benefiting the nearby naval and commercial shipping sectors. The university’s classification as a “very high research activity” doctoral institution signals robust graduate programs and extensive research output, attracting federal funding and industry partnerships. With a sizable student body and a 95 % admission rate, ODU provides accessible higher‑education opportunities while maintaining a strong emphasis on research, innovation, and community engagement. Its alumni and faculty contribute to advances in computer science, engineering, biomedical fields, and public policy, reinforcing ODU’s impact on economic development, workforce preparation, and scientific discovery.  

## Notable For  
- **Sea‑grant and Space‑grant affiliations:** Direct involvement in maritime and aerospace research through the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.  
- **Very high research activity:** One of the few public universities in the U.S. classified as a doctoral university with very high research activity (2021).  
- **Large, diverse enrollment:** Over 24 000 students, making it one of the larger public universities in the region.  
- **Strategic Norfolk location:** Proximity to the U.S. Navy’s largest base and a major port enhances research collaborations in defense, logistics, and marine sciences.  
- **Active athletics program:** The Old Dominion Monarchs compete in NCAA Division I, raising the university’s national profile.  

## Body  

### History  
- **1930 – Inception:** Established as a public institution to serve the educational needs of Norfolk and surrounding communities.  
- **Growth:** Expanded from a small teachers‑college to a comprehensive research university with multiple colleges and graduate schools.  

### Campus & Location  
- **Address:** 5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529.  
- **Geography:** Situated on the Atlantic coast; coordinates 36.88654 N, ‑76.30522 W.  
- **Facilities:** Includes modern research labs, a main library, and athletic venues for the Old Dominion Monarchs.  

### Academics & Research  
- **Classification:** Doctoral university with very high research activity (2021) and sea‑grant status.  
- **Academic Calendar:** Semester system.  
- **Endowment:** $329.8 million (2022) supports scholarships, faculty chairs, and research initiatives.  
- **Key Disciplines:** Computer science, engineering, maritime studies, biomedical engineering, and information science.  

### Governance & Affiliations  
- **Member Organizations:** ORCID, Inc.; AACU; ACE; CNI; APLU; AASCU; Council on Governmental Relations, among others.  
- **Affiliations:** Part of the Southeastern Universities Research Association and the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.  

### Student Body & Admissions  
- **Enrollment (2020‑2021):** 24,286 total; 18,249 full‑time‑equivalent.  
- **Admission Rate:** 95 % (2020) with a 24 % yield, indicating high accessibility.  
- **Languages:** Primary instruction in English.  

### Athletics  
- **Team Name:** Old Dominion Monarchs.  
- **Conference:** Competes in NCAA Division I across multiple sports.  

### Digital Presence  
- **Website:** https://www.odu.edu (English).  
- **Social Media:** Facebook “Old.Dominion.University”, Instagram “olddominionu”, Reddit subreddit “odu”, Threads username “olddominionu”.  

### Identifiers & Codes  
- **Ror ID:** 04zjtrb98  
- **GRID ID:** grid.261368.8  
- **GND:** 1047647‑7  
- **VIAF:** 136001496  
- **ISNI:** 0000000121643177  
- **IP Range:** 128.82.0.0/16  

## Schema Markup  
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  "description": "Public, co‑educational research university in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, founded in 1930.",
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## References

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15. [Source](http://www.odu.edu)
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23. [Source](https://tools.wmflabs.org/whois/gateway.py?lookup=true&ip=128.82.0.0)
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