San Diego State University (SDSU) vs Old Dominion University (ODU)
San Diego State University and Old Dominion University, both public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. San Diego State, located in the vibrant city of San Diego, California, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, while Old Dominion, situated in the historic city of Norfolk, Virginia, excels in engineering, health professions, and business. With acceptance rates of 33% and 79%, respectively, these universities cater to students with varying academic backgrounds. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about their differences in popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors, helping you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.
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![]() Old Dominion University |
![]() San Diego State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Norfolk, Virginia | San Diego, California |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 72.0% | 90.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 96.2% | 37.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
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Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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SAT range | 1020 - 1220 | N/A |
ACT range | 20 - 27 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 83.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 13,586 | 67,660 |
Total number of admissions given out | 13,074 | 25,646 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,899 | 5,269 |
Yield rate | 22.2% | 20.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | 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:
$28,256
Out of state:
$40,136
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Average net price | $17,254 | $6,867 |
Tuition |
In state:
$7,029
Out of state:
$26,664
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In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,690
Meal plan:
$5,398
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Room/dormitory:
$12,824
Meal plan:
$6,344
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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 |
47.0%
Average amount $9,026 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,222 |
18.0%
Average amount $5,015 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $15,206 |
2.0%
Average amount $21,638 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
18,678
Men 43.9% Women 56.1% |
31,321
Men 43.1% Women 56.9% |
Graduate students |
4,816
Men 39.4% Women 60.6% |
5,163
Men 35.9% Women 64.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 10.2% | 24.2% |
International students | 2.8% | 5.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 4,361 | 6,514 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia Maryland Pennsylvania North Carolina New Jersey | California Washington Colorado Texas New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 26:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 48.7% | 76.2% |
Dropout rate | 19.7% | 20.5% |
Transferred out | 28.2% | 1.4% |
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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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
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