Old Dominion University (ODU) is a Public doctoral research university based in Norfolk, Virginia. Old Dominion University is a public doctoral research university in Norfolk with strengths in engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, modeling and simulation, business, nursing, health sciences, education, sciences, maritime studies, and public service. ODU opened in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, with Virginia Tech engineering coursework added soon afterward. The institution became a four-year college, gained independence as Old Dominion College in 1962, became Old Dominion University in 1969, expanded doctoral education, and integrated Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2024. Research includes modeling and simulation, cybersecurity, bioelectrics, maritime systems, coastal resilience, engineering, computer science, health, biomedical science, transportation, ocean and earth science, education, and public policy. ODU’s Norfolk campus is located in the Hampton Roads region, near major military commands, shipbuilding, ports, NASA Langley, Jefferson Lab, healthcare systems, maritime employers, engineering firms, and public agencies. For current costs, For Fall 2026, undergraduate tuition is $443 per credit for Virginia residents and $1,134 per credit for nonresidents; each published rate includes $162 per credit in mandatory auxiliary tuition. Actual semester and annual totals depend on enrolled credits, program charges, housing, food, and other expenses. ODU does not require or consider SAT or ACT scores for standard undergraduate admission or standard scholarship consideration. Students may provide scores for placement or certain endowed-scholarship purposes. Hampton Roads supports careers in defense, shipbuilding, ports, maritime logistics, engineering, cybersecurity, modeling and simulation, healthcare, aviation, government, education, and technology. The university’s current undergraduate portfolio includes Computer Science B.S., Cybersecurity B.S., Civil Engineering B.S., Electrical Engineering B.S., Mechanical Engineering B.S., while graduate study includes Computer Science M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering M.S., Biomedical Engineering M.S., Modeling and Simulation M.S.. Doctoral education includes Computer Science Ph.D., Engineering with Electrical and Computer Engineering Concentration Ph.D., Engineering with Biomedical Engineering Concentration Ph.D., Engineering with Modeling and Simulation Engineering Concentration Ph.D.. Certificate and professional options include Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate, Modeling and Simulation Engineering Graduate Certificate, Maritime History Graduate Certificate. Incoming students receive automatic consideration for university merit aid, while current named opportunities include Constant Dominion, Cooper Dominion, Cutchins Dominion, and Honors College scholarships. Career preparation is supported by ODU Career Development Services. Old Dominion University therefore combines its institutional history, current academic portfolio, research activity, and location-specific professional environment into a distinct student experience rather than a generic university model. Students at Old Dominion University can combine classroom study with research, internships, projects, community engagement, professional organizations, and other forms of experiential learning that fit their academic field. The setting in Norfolk is especially relevant to defense, shipbuilding, ports, maritime logistics, engineering, cybersecurity, modeling and simulation, healthcare, aviation, government, education, and technology, giving academic programs a direct connection to the surrounding regional economy.