Stanford vs Old Dominion - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Stanford admits 3.8% of applications, Old Dominion admits 90.4%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Stanford: 13.1% of students against 1.3% (Old Dominion).
Real money goes to international students at Stanford ($85,424 on average), while Old Dominion stops at $16,000.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Stanford starts at $97,545 against $55,051 and ends at $20,266 against $24,614 (Old Dominion).
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Stanford is the more selective of the two (3.8% vs 90.4% acceptance). Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#2 vs #801-900). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $55K). Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $68,574 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 Stanford for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Old Dominion for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Stanford is more selective (3.8% vs 90.4% acceptance); Stanford has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1197).
Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $55K); Stanford has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.9% vs 46.3%).
Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $68,574); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($77,279 vs $30,437).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stanford | Old Dominion |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #2 | #801-900 |
| Rank · THE | #6 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 3.8% | 90.4% |
| Yield rate | 79.9% | 19.9% |
| Median SAT | 1550 | 1197 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.94 | 3.45 |
| Number of applications | 60,646 | 15,100 |
| International students | 13.1% | 1.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $124K | $55K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $37K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $220K | $80K |
| Graduation rate | 91.9% | 46.3% |
| Retention rate | 97.5% | 77% |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,574 | $33,885 |
| Avg. aid package | $77,279 | $30,437 |
| % of need met | 100% | 53% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $28,507 | $32,043 |
| Application fee | $100 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 18,121 | 23,743 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stanford or Old Dominion?
It's harder to get into Stanford. Stanford accepts 3.8% of applicants, while Old Dominion accepts 90.4%.
Do Stanford or Old Dominion graduates earn more?
Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $55K.
How much is tuition at Stanford vs Old Dominion?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,574 per year at Stanford and $33,885 per year at Old Dominion.
What SAT score do you need for Stanford or Old Dominion?
The median admitted SAT score is 1550 at Stanford and 1197 at Old Dominion; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stanford or Old Dominion?
Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #2 for Stanford vs #801-900 for Old Dominion.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stanford or Old Dominion?
The average aid package is $77,279 at Stanford and $30,437 at Old Dominion.
Harvard
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina