Old Dominion University Surpasses 24,000 Students Marking Historic Milestone
News related to:Old Dominion University · 2 min read
Norfolk, VA, Sept. 09, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- For the first time in five years, Old Dominion University (ODU) has welcomed more than 24,000 students to its campus, a significant achievement that underscores the success of its Forward-Focused Digital Transformation. This milestone reflects broad-based growth across all student populations, with a 14.5% overall increase in new students, including a 14% surge in new freshmen, a 10.5% rise in new undergraduate students, and a 24.4% jump in new graduate students.
The university's enrollment strategy has been particularly successful in online education. New online students increased by 31.8%, with a 34.1% rise in new online undergraduate students, a 43.7% surge in new online graduate students, and a 16.2% increase in new out-of-state online students. These gains validate ODU's decision to redesign its online learning model to better meet the needs of today's learners.
President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of anticipating change rather than reacting to it. "We began this work years ago knowing we would not see every result immediately. This fall provides clear and indisputable evidence that we were indeed prepared for a bold and promising future."
The Forward-Focused Digital Transformation, launched in 2025, has been instrumental in driving this growth. The plan aimed to create an institution that could better serve the needs of today's students.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Brian K. Payne, Ph.D., highlighted the importance of flexibility and innovation in maintaining academic quality.
Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Transformation, and Technology and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Nina Rodriguez Gonser underscored the university's commitment to removing barriers and creating a more flexible and responsive environment. "We believed that if we could remove unnecessary barriers, create greater flexibility and responsiveness, and design an institution around the realities facing today's students, they would choose Old Dominion University. This fall, they did."
The results of this transformation are reflected in the university's retention rate, which has reached approximately 79.5%, up from a low of 71.7% in 2020. The nearly eight-percentage-point improvement represents meaningful progress in one of the most important measures of student success: not simply attracting students, but creating the conditions for them to stay, persist, and progress toward their degrees.
Old Dominion University's success in surpassing 24,000 students is a testament to its forward-thinking approach and its ability to adapt to the changing needs of students. The university's commitment to providing a high-quality education while maintaining academic rigor and flexibility has paid off, as evidenced by the significant enrollment growth and improved retention rates. This milestone is not just a measure of the past but a blueprint for the future of higher education, demonstrating that proactive change can lead to measurable success.