ODU and CNU

[Anonymous]

Can someone give me the back of a napkin on the differences/similarities between these two schools and the type of student they attract?

[Anonymous]

Please.

[Anonymous]

CNU is whiter and smaller. CNU isn't an old historic college and all of their buildings are new (like 1960s+). CNU also seem to maybe be more conservative than ODU.

ODU is larger and more diverse. It also is a pretty new institution and its architecture reflects this.

I don't know anyone personally who goes to either of these places but know of kids who go to both. ODU kids both went to not so great HSs in NOVA and are still there. CNU kid transferred to GMU or JMU (don't remember).

Incoming student stats are basically identical at both schools.

[Anonymous]

I have a pretty good working knowledge of colleges and universities and while I've mostly focused on small liberal arts schools for my kids, I have no idea what ODU and CNU stand for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a pretty good working knowledge of colleges and universities and while I've mostly focused on small liberal arts schools for my kids, I have no idea what ODU and CNU stand for.

Old Dominion University and Christopher Newport, both in-state VA schools

[Anonymous]

Which school will have a better peer group/alumni network?

[Anonymous]

CNU is 4,400 students in Newport News. It was once an arm of William & Mary. ODU is 25,000 undergrads, second or largest public university in the Commonwealth after GMU and JMU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which school will have a better peer group/alumni network?

Have you/has your DC looked into VTech? It's not that much harder to get into if you're in an uncompetitive major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CNU is 4,400 students in Newport News. It was once an arm of William & Mary. ODU is 25,000 undergrads, second or largest public university in the Commonwealth after GMU and JMU

I believe ODU was also a part of W&M like UVA's Mary Washington and GMU connection. Not sure but I would expect VCU to be one of t3 largest VA universities?

[Anonymous]

In addition to some of the differences cited above, ODU has a lot more second-career, military, and part-time students who work. I think it skews older and less traditional in comparison to a place like CNU. There are still younger students and it’s a large university but a certain contingent does fall into that category. They even tout it on their website.

https://www.odu.edu/educational-foundations-leadership/student-profiles

It’s a great thing but can certainly have an impact on the college experience. For example, ODU only has a 50% graduation rate. I think of CNU as being younger, less diverse, preppier, and more traditional. ODU much more diverse with over one-third of students identifying as Black or Hispanic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a pretty good working knowledge of colleges and universities and while I've mostly focused on small liberal arts schools for my kids, I have no idea what ODU and CNU stand for.

Wow, such helpful insight! Very glad you popped in here to share your lack of knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In addition to some of the differences cited above, ODU has a lot more second-career, military, and part-time students who work. I think it skews older and less traditional in comparison to a place like CNU. There are still younger students and it’s a large university but a certain contingent does fall into that category. They even tout it on their website.

https://www.odu.edu/educational-foundations-leadership/student-profiles

It’s a great thing but can certainly have an impact on the college experience. For example, ODU only has a 50% graduation rate. I think of CNU as being younger, less diverse, preppier, and more traditional. ODU much more diverse with over one-third of students identifying as Black or Hispanic.

To be fair, this is in large part due to 55% of the student body being low/income. VA is great about providing higher ed opportunities for everyone

[Anonymous]

ODU is an R1 Research University. It is comprehensive and grants PhD’s.

CNU is a masters level regional university per Carnegie classification.

This doesn’t make one better than the other…just different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In addition to some of the differences cited above, ODU has a lot more second-career, military, and part-time students who work. I think it skews older and less traditional in comparison to a place like CNU. There are still younger students and it’s a large university but a certain contingent does fall into that category. They even tout it on their website.

https://www.odu.edu/educational-foundations-leadership/student-profiles

It’s a great thing but can certainly have an impact on the college experience. For example, ODU only has a 50% graduation rate. I think of CNU as being younger, less diverse, preppier, and more traditional. ODU much more diverse with over one-third of students identifying as Black or Hispanic.

To be fair, this is in large part due to 55% of the student body being low/income. VA is great about providing higher ed opportunities for everyone

I always thought the lower graduation rate resulted from transient military population rather than demographics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a pretty good working knowledge of colleges and universities and while I've mostly focused on small liberal arts schools for my kids, I have no idea what ODU and CNU stand for.

Have you ever heard of not talking unless you are adding value to the conversation? What a useless comment.