Old Dominion University (ODU) vs Virginia Military Institute
Old Dominion University (ODU) and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) are two distinct institutions of higher learning in Virginia, each offering unique educational experiences. ODU, a public research university, boasts an acceptance rate of 84%, while VMI, a public military college, maintains a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 58%. ODU's diverse student body comprises over 24,000 undergraduates, while VMI's student population is significantly smaller, with approximately 1,700 undergraduates. Both universities offer a wide range of academic programs, with ODU excelling in fields like business, engineering, and health professions, and VMI specializing in engineering, liberal arts, and leadership studies. While ODU's graduation rate stands at 59%, VMI boasts a higher graduation rate of 73%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two esteemed institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic
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![]() Old Dominion University |
![]() Virginia Military Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Norfolk, Virginia | Lexington, Virginia |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 72.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 96.2% | 63.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
$40 |
SAT range | 1020 - 1220 | 1080 - 1300 |
ACT range | 20 - 27 | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 83.0% | 29.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 12.0% |
Total number of applicants | 13,586 | 1,549 |
Total number of admissions given out | 13,074 | 990 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,899 | 461 |
Yield rate | 22.2% | 46.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$28,088
Out of state:
$48,248
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In state:
$33,182
Out of state:
$61,836
|
Average net price | $17,254 | $18,100 |
Tuition |
In state:
$7,029
Out of state:
$26,664
|
In state:
$9,782
Out of state:
$38,436
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,690
Meal plan:
$5,398
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Room/dormitory:
$3,102
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $7,702 |
91.0%
Average amount $10,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,222 |
59.0%
Average amount $3,385 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $15,206 |
11.0%
Average amount $22,604 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
18,678
Men 43.9% Women 56.1% |
1,652
Men 86.2% Women 13.8% |
Graduate students |
4,816
Men 39.4% Women 60.6% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 10.2% | 38.2% |
International students | 2.8% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 4,361 | 1,751 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia Maryland Pennsylvania North Carolina New Jersey | Virginia Pennsylvania Maryland North Carolina New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 48.7% | 73.7% |
Dropout rate | 19.7% | 4.4% |
Transferred out | 28.2% | 21.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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