Old Dominion University (ODU) vs University of South Alabama

Old Dominion University (ODU) and the University of South Alabama (USA) are two distinct institutions of higher learning with unique characteristics. ODU, located in Norfolk, Virginia, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to USA's 68%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with ODU excelling in fields like engineering, business, and health professions, while USA stands out in nursing, allied health, and engineering. ODU's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students and a slightly larger undergraduate population. In terms of graduation rates, USA has a slight edge over ODU, with a 59% graduation rate compared to ODU's 57%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, providing valuable insights to guide your choice between these two esteemed universities.
Old Dominion University logo

Old Dominion University

University of South Alabama logo

University of South Alabama

Overview

Location Norfolk, Virginia Mobile, Alabama
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
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% 71.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 96.2% 70.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
SAT range 1020 - 1220 985 - 1215
ACT range 20 - 27 19 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 83.0% 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0% 86.0%
Total number of applicants 13,586 11,817
Total number of admissions given out 13,074 8,364
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,899 1,778
Yield rate 22.2% 21.3%
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 Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,088

Out of state: $48,248
In state: $23,838

Out of state: $32,094
Average net price $17,254 $14,984
Tuition
In state: $7,029

Out of state: $26,664
In state: $8,256

Out of state: $16,512
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,690

Meal plan: $5,398
Room/dormitory: $4,260

Meal plan: $3,890
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $7,702
92.0%
Average amount $7,774
Students receiving federal student loan 57.0%
Average amount $5,222
49.0%
Average amount $10,354
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $15,206
4.0%
Average amount $12,311

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 18,678
Men 43.9% Women 56.1%
8,833
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
Graduate students 4,816
Men 39.4% Women 60.6%
5,159
Men 20.2% Women 79.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 10.2% 24.3%
International students 2.8% 1.5%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 4,361 3,331
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 Alabama Mississippi Florida Illinois Louisiana

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 48.7% 47.4%
Dropout rate 19.7% 19.5%
Transferred out 28.2% 29.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,047
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $104,107
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,948
  • Year 2: $95,295
  • Year 3: $103,379
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,161
  • Year 2: $78,719
  • Year 3: $83,937
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,137
  • Year 2: $72,231
  • Year 3: $83,852
Education, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,043
  • Year 2: $71,854
  • Year 3: $77,597
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,315
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $75,302
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,709
  • Year 2: $66,126
  • Year 3: $74,887
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,357
  • Year 2: $71,114
  • Year 3: $74,858
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,112
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $73,924
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,804
  • Year 2: $62,654
  • Year 3: $72,559
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $116,286
  • Year 2: $109,763
  • Year 3: $117,239
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,918
  • Year 2: $115,711
  • Year 3: $112,240
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,131
  • Year 2: $102,706
  • Year 3: $111,122
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,584
  • Year 2: $96,954
  • Year 3: $102,546
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $60,839
  • Year 3: $80,009
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,655
  • Year 2: $72,214
  • Year 3: $79,002
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,253
  • Year 2: $66,240
  • Year 3: $76,272
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,913
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $75,983
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,168
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $74,579
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,562
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $72,349

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of South Alabama University of South Alabama
Old Dominion University ODU vs Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Northern Colorado University of Northern Colorado
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Connecticut University of Connecticut
Old Dominion University ODU vs Strayer University-District of Columbia Strayer University-District of Columbia
Old Dominion University ODU vs Florida Atlantic University Florida Atlantic University
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Georgia University of Georgia
Old Dominion University ODU vs Illinois State University Illinois State University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Ball State University Ball State University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Indiana University-Bloomington Indiana University-Bloomington
Old Dominion University ODU vs Iowa State University Iowa State University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Louisiana Tech University Louisiana Tech University
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Massachusetts-Amherst University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Old Dominion University ODU vs Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Southern Mississippi University of Southern Mississippi
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Missouri-St Louis University of Missouri-St Louis
Old Dominion University ODU vs Missouri State University-Springfield Missouri State University-Springfield
Old Dominion University ODU vs Rutgers University-New Brunswick Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Old Dominion University ODU vs SUNY at Albany SUNY at Albany
Old Dominion University ODU vs East Carolina University East Carolina University
Old Dominion University ODU vs North Carolina A & T State University North Carolina A & T State University
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Old Dominion University ODU vs Miami University-Oxford Miami University-Oxford
Old Dominion University ODU vs Ohio University-Main Campus Ohio University-Main Campus
Old Dominion University ODU vs Drexel University Drexel University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Temple University Temple University
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Rhode Island University of Rhode Island
Old Dominion University ODU vs East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Memphis University of Memphis
Old Dominion University ODU vs Middle Tennessee State University Middle Tennessee State University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Texas State University Texas State University
Old Dominion University ODU vs University of Vermont University of Vermont
Old Dominion University ODU vs Regent University Regent University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Christopher Newport University Christopher Newport University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Hampton University Hampton University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Liberty University Liberty University
Old Dominion University ODU vs Virginia Military Institute Virginia Military Institute
Old Dominion University ODU vs South University-Virginia Beach South University-Virginia Beach
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Alabama A & M University Alabama A & M University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Alabama State University Alabama State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs University of West Alabama University of West Alabama
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Troy University Troy University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Arkansas State University Arkansas State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs University of Central Arkansas University of Central Arkansas
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Boise State University Boise State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Purdue University Fort Wayne Purdue University Fort Wayne
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Indiana State University Indiana State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Eastern Kentucky University Eastern Kentucky University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs University of Louisiana at Monroe University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Jackson State University Jackson State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Mississippi State University Mississippi State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs University of Southern Mississippi University of Southern Mississippi
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Rowan University Rowan University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Appalachian State University Appalachian State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs East Carolina University East Carolina University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Western Carolina University Western Carolina University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Middle Tennessee State University Middle Tennessee State University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Texas Woman's University Texas Woman's University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs University of Vermont University of Vermont
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University
University of South Alabama University of South Alabama vs Marshall University Marshall University