Old Dominion vs Southern California - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Southern California admits 9.8% of applications, Old Dominion admits 90.4%.
The more international environment is at Southern California (13.2% international students) than Old Dominion (1.3%).
Average aid for an international student is $25,384 (Southern California) and $16,000 (Old Dominion).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Southern California starts at $89,087 against $55,051 and ends at $17,918 against $24,614 (Old Dominion).
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 90.4% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#801-900 vs #62). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $55K). Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $68,687 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Old Dominion for: lower tuition.
Choose Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 90.4% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1197).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $55K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 46.3%).
Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $30,437).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Old Dominion | Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #62 |
| Rank · THE | - | #72 |
| Acceptance rate | 90.4% | 9.81% |
| Yield rate | 19.9% | 43.3% |
| Median SAT | 1197 | 1495 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.45 | 3.80 |
| Number of applications | 15,100 | 82,027 |
| International students | 1.3% | 13.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $92K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $37K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $80K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 46.3% | 91.8% |
| Retention rate | 77% | 95.6% |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $18,000 |
| Tuition · year | $33,885 | $68,687 |
| Avg. aid package | $30,437 | $71,169 |
| % of need met | 53% | 99.3% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,043 | $27,678 |
| Application fee | $50 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 23,743 | 46,566 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Old Dominion or Southern California?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Old Dominion accepts 90.4% of applicants, while Southern California accepts 9.81%.
Do Old Dominion or Southern California graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $55K.
How much is tuition at Old Dominion vs Southern California?
Sticker-price tuition is $33,885 per year at Old Dominion and $68,687 per year at Southern California.
What SAT score do you need for Old Dominion or Southern California?
The median admitted SAT score is 1197 at Old Dominion and 1495 at Southern California; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Old Dominion or Southern California?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Old Dominion vs #62 for Southern California.
Which university offers more financial aid - Old Dominion or Southern California?
The average aid package is $30,437 at Old Dominion and $71,169 at Southern California.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern