What Old Dominion University does

Old Dominion University is a public R1 research university founded in 1930 and headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, serving approximately 24,000 students across 239 degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, doctoral, Ed Specialist, and certificate levels with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Approximately 30% of its student body is military-affiliated, making ODU a major supplier of talent to U.S. defense, maritime, and logistics industries, and the university markets itself as Virginia's most affordable R1 doctoral-granting institution. The university contributes an estimated $3.8 billion annually to Virginia's economy and operates through colleges spanning engineering, business, education, arts and letters, sciences, data science, cybersecurity, and—following the July 2024 integration of Eastern Virginia Medical School—health sciences, including the Commonwealth's largest academic health sciences center (Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences) backed by a $650 million joint investment from Sentara Health and the Commonwealth.

ODU's core products are its degree programs, delivered through two primary channels: on-campus instruction in Norfolk, and ODUGlobal's online division, which offers accelerated 8-week asynchronous formats and multiple programs ranked #1–#3 in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report 2026. Its underlying technology stack has expanded materially since 2025 with the MonarchSphere AI Incubator (powered by Google Cloud), AI-driven quantum computing tutors (presented at IEEE QCE), agentic AI system architectures (developed with the University of Oulu), containerized GAMESS quantum chemistry software on AWS HPC, blockchain-enabled telehealth platforms, AI-generated virtual clinical clients via Convai for occupational therapy training, and a large-scale deployment of AVer AI auto-tracking cameras for hybrid learning. Research is organized around the new National Security Institute (ODU-NSI), the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, ENRICHe health equity grants, and industry partnerships with Newport News Shipbuilding, Splice Technologies, and the Norfolk Navy Fleet and Family Support Center.

ODU's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a public research university: tuition and fees (recurring), state appropriations from the Commonwealth of Virginia (recurring), federal grants and research contracts including a $1.3 million five-year U.S. Department of Education grant (recurring), auxiliary services such as housing, dining, and athletics (one-time), and healthcare services revenue from the integrated Brock Virginia Health Sciences and EVMS clinical enterprise (recurring). Distribution occurs through direct admissions (on-campus and online), military and veteran recruitment channels including ROTC, and industry/government partnerships that deliver workforce-aligned curricula and research collaborations. The university holds dual NSA AICyber and SecureAI validations through 2030 and is one of only ten U.S. universities—and the only one in Virginia—to hold all three NSA Centers of Academic Excellence designations, reinforcing its positioning as a defense-aligned R1 institution in the Hampton Roads region.

Name

Old Dominion University

Legal name

Old Dominion University

Website

https://odu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Old Dominion University is a public R1 research university in Norfolk, Virginia, serving ~24,000 students across 239 degree programs, with approximately 30% military-affiliated enrollment and the Commonwealth's largest academic health sciences center following its 2024 EVMS integration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Research university
• Online degree programs
• Health sciences education
• Workforce training

Headquarters

HQ city

Norfolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate, graduate, and professional tuition and fees from enrolled students across all academic programs including ODUGlobal online programs.
2. State Appropriations: State funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia supporting university operations, research, and public mission.
3. Federal Grants and Research Contracts: Federal funding supporting research activities, including grants from the U.S. Department of Education ($1.3M five-year grant), NIH research, and other federal agencies supporting the university's R1 research mission.
4. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from auxiliary services including housing, dining, athletics, recreation, and other student life services.
5. Healthcare Services Revenue: Revenue generated through Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences, the Commonwealth's largest academic health sciences center following the July 2024 integration of Eastern Virginia Medical School, supported by a $650 million investment including $350M from Sentara Health and $300M from the Commonwealth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Old Dominion University is a public doctoral research university delivering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across 239 academic pathways, with a growing health-sciences portfolio anchored by the 2024 integration of Eastern Virginia Medical School. It also offers fully online degree programs through ODUGlobal, nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, and supports research, workforce training, and community engagement across Virginia.

Product overview

Old Dominion University is an R1 research institution offering 239 degree programs (undergraduate through doctoral) across multiple colleges and schools. Its technology-integrated offerings include ODUGlobal, a comprehensive online education division with accelerated asynchronous formats serving approximately 30% military-affiliated students; MonarchSphere AI Incubator (powered by Google Cloud), integrating AI across research, teaching, and operations; AI quantum computing tutor for STEM education; AI auto-tracking cameras for hybrid classroom instruction; and AI virtual client simulations for occupational therapy clinical training. ODU also hosts a National Security Institute (ODU-NSI) for national security research, a cybersecurity internship program in its Security Operations Center, and partners with the Navy on clinical mental health services. The university's technology portfolio is supported by infrastructure integrations with Splunk, OCLC WorldShare Management Services, Hampton Roads Transit, and AVer camera technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ODUGlobal: Online and distance learning programs
• MonarchSphere
• Monarch Nation
• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences
• Barry Art Museum
• Mitchum Basketball Performance Center
• Monarch Transit
• SAFE RIDE
• GoPass365
• Perry Library
• Brave Space
• ODU Safe

Products and services

• Academic Degree Programs A portfolio of 239 undergraduate through doctoral academic degree programs offered to prospective students on the Norfolk, Virginia campus, covering arts, sciences, business, engineering, education, and health-related disciplines.
• ODUGlobal Online Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• R1 Research Institution classification
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability8 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• OCLCcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2026Old Dominion University selected OCLC's WorldShare Management Services as its library services platform following a comprehensive multi-year review process. The selection was driven by WMS's scalability and alignment with ODU's strategic direction after the ODU-EVMS merger combined the Brickell Medical Sciences Library with ODU Libraries.
• American College of Lifestyle MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026ODU partnered with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine to guide its Health Promoting University initiative, integrating well-being into teaching, research, policies, and community experiences. The partnership supports education, clinical practice, research, and community outreach efforts.
• Norfolk State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Norfolk State University partnered with ODU through the ENRICHe (Research and Training Incubator for Collaboration in Health Equity) Grant program, led by Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences. Two collaborative research initiatives addressing health disparities in Hampton Roads received up to $50,000 per project in funding.
• Commonwealth Cyber InitiativecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative announced $1.9 million in funding for 19 cybersecurity research projects, with ODU researchers participating in multiple initiatives focused on AI and critical infrastructure including transportation, power grids, water, supply chains, and healthcare. Proposals received exceeded funded projects by more than threefold.
• Splice Technologies, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026ODU partnered with Splice Technologies, Inc. to give supply chain and maritime operations students access to real-world datasets on ocean carriers, ports, terminals, and logistics management systems. The partnership aims to support research projects, develop case studies for courses like Supply Chain 4.0, and prepare students for careers in maritime logistics while generating insights to improve U.S. port efficiency.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2026AWS supports ODU's project to modernize GAMESS quantum chemistry software, providing High-Performance Computing services and cloud infrastructure. The project developed CPU- and GPU-optimized containers deployable on AWS HPC services, enabling cloud-native deployment for 140,000 global researchers with potential for 30% energy efficiency gains.
• Iowa State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026ODU collaborated with Iowa State University and Amazon Web Services to modernize GAMESS quantum chemistry software, creating CPU- and GPU-optimized containers for cloud-native HPC deployment. The team validated the containers against Iowa State's published protein-ligand research, confirming no performance overhead.
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ODU researchers, in partnership with ISTE, developed the ISTE Standards for Faculty—a research-based framework designed to guide higher education institutions in integrating technology with purpose and academic integrity. The framework was refined across two iterative cycles with input from 114 participants across disciplines and institutional types.
• AVer Information Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2025ODU deployed thousands of AVer TR315 AI Auto Tracking Cameras across hundreds of classrooms for hybrid learning and lecture capture, making it one of the largest higher-education installations of this camera model. AVer provided ongoing support including custom firmware development.
• Google Public SectorflagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025ODU and Google Public Sector launched MonarchSphere, a multi-year AI incubator powered by Google Cloud designed to integrate artificial intelligence across university research, teaching, and operations. The initiative aims to enhance innovation, accelerate research, and provide AI-focused education and community support.
• Huntington Ingalls Industries / Newport News ShipbuildingflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024The Newport News Shipbuilding Office formally opened at ODU in fall 2024 as a partnership between the two Tidewater-area institutions. Rob Gies, a triple alumnus and 36-year Newport News Shipbuilding engineer, serves as Professional in Residence, mentoring students and promoting engineering careers. The partnership also supports the Monarch Accelerator Program to Engineering (MAP2E) for first-generation college students.
• Norfolk Navy Fleet and Family Support CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024ODU and the Norfolk Navy Fleet and Family Support Center completed the first year of a clinical partnership placing graduate counseling students with the military support organization to provide mental health services to service members and their families while gaining practical clinical experience. The pilot program is described as one of the first of its kind locally.
• Hampton Roads Transit (HRT)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorODU partnered with Hampton Roads Transit to provide GoPass365, a deeply discounted annual transit pass for students and faculty, enabling access to all HRT buses, light rail, and ferries in the Hampton Roads region.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• George Mason University: Virginia public R1 with strong cybersecurity, data science, and large online programs. Overlaps ODU directly on NSA Centers of Academic Excellence designations, online learning scale, and northern Virginia / Hampton Roads workforce pipelines.
• Virginia Commonwealth University: Virginia public R1 with a major academic medical center (VCU Health). Direct peer on health sciences education, research funding, and medical school integration strategy post-ODU's EVMS merger.
• James Madison University: Virginia public doctoral university competing with ODU for in-state undergraduates, online enrollment, and affordability-driven applicants. Comparable positioning as a value-priced Virginia public institution.
• University of Virginia: Top-tier Virginia public R1 research university. Comparable on doctoral degree portfolio and research intensity, and competes with ODU for state appropriations, top faculty, and high-achieving in-state applicants.
• College of William & Mary: Virginia public doctoral university and direct in-state competitor for high-achieving applicants, state funding allocations, and research designation status within the Commonwealth.
• Virginia Tech: Virginia's flagship R1 public research university with comparable doctoral programs, online learning, military-affiliated enrollment, and athletic profile (Sun Belt/ACC overlap and FCS-to-FBS history). Closest direct in-state peer for research funding, faculty recruitment, and online competition.
• Old Dominion University – EVMS: Eastern Virginia Medical School, now integrated into ODU as Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences. Internal peer/affiliate for academic health sciences center scale, medical school strategy, and Sentara Health partnership economics.

Broad incumbents

• University of Maryland, College Park: Regional public R1 in the mid-Atlantic with large research portfolio, online programs, and significant federal research funding. Comparable scale of online and graduate offerings and competes for out-of-state students in the same corridor as ODU.
• Penn State University: Large public R1 with a national online learning footprint (Penn State World Campus) and significant research output. Comparable on accelerated online formats, military-affiliated enrollment via World Campus, and multi-billion-dollar research enterprise.

Regional players

• Norfolk State University: Local Norfolk HBCU and ENRICHe Grant program partner. Competes for Hampton Roads students and federal HBCU funding, but operates a different mission and is not a direct R1 research competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBNgsDl2hppmwMyGR2NmL9A
• Facebookfacebook.com/Old.Dominion.University
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school
• Instagraminstagram.com/olddominionu
• Xx.com/ODUnow

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Old Dominion University