First Star Old Dominion University Academy

What First Star Old Dominion University Academy does

First Star Old Dominion University Academy is a college preparatory program operated as a partnership between First Star, a national nonprofit serving foster youth, and Old Dominion University (ODU), a public R1 research university located in Norfolk, Virginia. The academy serves foster youth, providing academic preparation, college-readiness instruction, and structured pathways into higher education. Operating inside ODU's School of Education and Human Services, the program draws on the host institution's R1 research designation (awarded 2022), a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, and the Canvas learning management system to deliver its curriculum and advising. Program staffing is small (approximately 5 employees), consistent with a focused, mission-specific unit rather than a broad academic department.

The business and funding model is that of a hosted university program rather than a standalone commercial entity. The academy is supported by external grants — including a $150,000 SCHEV Capacity-Building Grant — and by ODU institutional resources, while students (foster youth) are not a tuition-paying customer segment in the conventional sense. The academy is positioned within a broader ODU partnership and program ecosystem that includes EVMS (healthcare pathway partnerships), Enactus and Parker Dewey (experiential learning and micro-internships), Monarch PAW (student-success programming), ODUGlobal (online program channel), and a Peninsula Center expansion effort. The host university has also articulated an institutional goal of 100% internship participation by 2027, which would expand experiential learning throughput for academy participants.

Name

First Star Old Dominion University Academy

Website

https://ww1.odu.edu

Company type

Private

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Star Old Dominion University Academy is a college preparatory program within Old Dominion University that serves foster youth through academic readiness, advising, and structured pathways into higher education, supported by external grants and host-university partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition based on in-state and out-of-state residency status, along with various student fees for services and activities.
2. State Funding: State appropriations from the Commonwealth of Virginia supporting public university operations.
3. Research Grants and Funding: External funding from federal agencies, state programs, and private foundations supporting research initiatives.
4. Zero-Credit Internship Programs: UNIV 068 and GRAD 668 provide tuition-free internship opportunities for students to gain real-world experience beyond traditional academic frameworks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

First Star Old Dominion University Academy is a small, specialized college access and readiness program operating within ODU's School of Education and Educational Studies. It serves foster youth and other vulnerable student populations in the Hampton Roads region by providing academic preparation, college enrollment support, and access to ODU's broader educational resources including 175+ majors, Canvas LMS, experiential learning, and student support services. The program leverages ODU's R1 research university infrastructure to deliver individualized college readiness pathways.

Product overview

Old Dominion University operates as a comprehensive R1 research institution offering a unified academic platform across multiple colleges and schools. The university provides traditional on-campus education alongside ODUGlobal for online learning, with specialized interdisciplinary schools in Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Supply Chain & Maritime Operations. Student support is delivered through the Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office (MICO), technology services, and academic advising centers. The institution leverages the Canvas learning management system for course delivery and maintains technology infrastructure supporting student, faculty, and researcher computing needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• First Star Old Dominion University Academy College readiness and academic preparation program for foster youth operating within ODU's School of Education and Educational Studies
• ODUGlobal Online Learning Platform Online degree programs and continuing education for remote learners and working professionals, accessible to First Star Academy students
• Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office (MICO) Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office offering internship programs, co-op opportunities, and zero-credit internship courses (UNIV 068, GRAD 668) accessible to all ODU students including First Star Academy participants
• ODU Undergraduate Degree Programs Traditional 4-year undergraduate degree programs across 175+ majors and concentrations offered through ODU's academic colleges and schools
• ODU Graduate Degree Programs Graduate degree programs including master's, PhD, and professional programs with research opportunities and graduate assistantships
• School of Cybersecurity Interdisciplinary school offering undergraduate and graduate programs in cybersecurity, cyber operations, and cyber risk management
• School of Data Science Interdisciplinary school offering data science programs at undergraduate and graduate levels with concentrations in AI and machine learning
• School of Supply Chain, Logistics & Maritime Operations School focused on maritime, ports, logistics and supply chain management education and research
• Monarch Professional Attire and Wardrobe (PAW) Program providing free career-specific professional clothing including suits, lab coats, and industry-specific gear for students with financial need
• Pre-Professional Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) Committee assisting students and alumni seeking admission to competitive graduate-level professional health programs including medical, dental, pharmacy, physician assistant, and physical therapy

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% student internship participation goal by 2027
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EnactuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent entrepreneurship organization that co-developed the Monarch Professional Attire and Wardrobe (PAW) initiative with the Monarch Internship and Co-Op Office, providing free career clothing for students.
• The Monarch WayminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPop-up location for the Monarch Professional Attire and Wardrobe program, operated in partnership with the internship office.
• Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency (CCRFR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState center that funded ODU research on hurricane economic impact on Hampton Roads region ($15.6 billion scenario study).
• Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerODU institute that co-funded hurricane impact research study alongside CCRFR.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency whose Hazus modeling tools were used by ODU researchers to calculate hurricane damage scenarios.
• Brooks Crossing Innovation LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation lab partner that hosted ODU cybersecurity student Gregory Wilson as an intern for hands-on experience.
• Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical school partnership offering joint educational programs and shared facilities including Eastern Virginia Medical School and EVMS School of Health Professions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Virginia Wesleyan University: Private regional university in Norfolk/Hampton Roads. Comparable as a competing four-year institution vying for the same regional student pool the Academy recruits from.
• Regent University: Private Virginia Beach-based university. Comparable as another regionally competing institution for graduate and online learners in Hampton Roads.
• College of William & Mary: Another public Virginia university serving similar in-state undergraduate and graduate populations in close geographic proximity; comparable as a competitor for the same Virginia-resident students and state funding.
• Tidewater Community College: Local community college serving the same Norfolk/Hampton Roads feeder population for college access. Comparable as a lower-cost alternative pathway the Academy's scholars might otherwise pursue.
• Christopher Newport University: Virginia public university serving similar Virginia-resident undergraduate populations. Comparable as a peer public regional institution in Virginia.

Broad incumbents

• First Star (national organization): National nonprofit that operates the First Star Academy model across multiple university partners. Directly comparable as the parent program framework; First Star Old Dominion University Academy is one of its partner sites.
• Old Dominion University: The host public R1 university whose faculty, programs, and student services the Academy leverages. Comparable as the institutional backbone underpinning the Academy's operations and value proposition.

Direct peers

• Norfolk State University: HBCU in Norfolk and a fellow public institution serving similar demographic groups (including first-generation and minority students). Most directly comparable to ODU as a public regional competitor and fellow Minority-Serving institution focus.

Emerging players

• Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS): ODU's joint medical education partner. Comparable as a regionally anchored health-professions pathway that the Academy's pre-health scholars can access.
• Seeds to STEM / College Bridge programs (foster youth nonprofit programs): Examples include Foster Care to Success and iFoster, which provide similar college access and persistence support for foster youth. Comparable as direct mission-aligned peers serving the same student demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-star-odu-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about First Star Old Dominion University Academy