College ROI

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Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA 17,514 Undergrads 55.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$29,446
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,638
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,472
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,638
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,472
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$54,914
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate55.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.6
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.4%
SAT Avg
1,197
SAT Reading
25th: 57057075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 53055075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 242475th: 29

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$571k
+$104k
+$87k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$518k
+$52k
+$34k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$465k
-$2k
-$19k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
45
65%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-18%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return63%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-36%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,211
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,139
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,933
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,157
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,304
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
$25,239
Earnings (4yr)
$61,442
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,406
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,406
Earnings (4yr)
$82,703
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Median Debt
$23,343
Earnings (4yr)
$68,943
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,039
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
$23,925
Earnings (4yr)
$95,485
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$94,542
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$23,825
Earnings (4yr)
$56,659
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,732
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,537
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,427
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
BachCIP: 1599
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,077
Natl Median: $81,678
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,024
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,849
Earnings (4yr)
$67,320
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$28,808
Earnings (4yr)
$46,308
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,280
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,255
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,027
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,715
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
$21,187
Earnings (4yr)
$54,505
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,465
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,574
Earnings (4yr)
$61,550
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,450
Earnings (4yr)
$66,847
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,772
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,604
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,889
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,028
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$51,233
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,939
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,907
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,990
Earnings (4yr)
$90,917
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,390
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,734
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,497
Earnings (4yr)
$52,482
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$24,490
Earnings (4yr)
$56,564
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,516
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$127,217
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$450k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,908
Natl Median: $77,545
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,400
Earnings (4yr)
$108,161
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,666
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,062
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,248
Earnings (4yr)
$75,445
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$103,194
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$125,132
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$432k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,539
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,794
Earnings (4yr)
$84,367
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,439
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$127,286
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$451k
Median Debt
$65,250
Earnings (4yr)
$80,546
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,377
Earnings (4yr)
$56,192
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,622
Earnings (4yr)
$58,539
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,916
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,354
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,272
Natl Median: $119,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,957
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
DocCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$55,877
Earnings (4yr)
$94,365
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
-$216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$75,732
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,043
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,406
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.