Old Dominion University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Old Dominion University charges a net price of $14,638/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $58,552. Graduates earn a median $54,914 ten years after entry, $6,554/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.9 years — a 20-year net return of $72,528, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Old Dominion University's 8.9-year payback ranks #737 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 43% of them, and #18 of 81 in Virginia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,638/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $58,552 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,914 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $6,554/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $72,528 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Old Dominion University's own numbers. Net price $14,638 × 4 years = $58,552 total. Median earnings $54,914 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,554 a year of premium. $58,552 ÷ $6,554 = 8.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $72,528. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Old Dominion University students graduate with?
A median $24,000 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $54,914 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Old Dominion University students graduate?
46% finish their degree — 54% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $58,552 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $127,287 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Old Dominion University expensive compared with other Virginia colleges?
Its $14,638 net price runs $4,428 below the $19,066 median across the 81 Virginia colleges we profile, and $17,712 less across the full degree.