Study in Norfolk, The United States
2 schools in Norfolk, The United States. Universities (2).
Universities in Norfolk 2
- Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University was established in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary, and became independent in 1962. It is a public re…
- Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University (NSU) is a university in Norfolk, Virginia, with a 134-acre campus. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Sch…
About Norfolk
Norfolk is a port city in the state of Virginia, on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It is part of Hampton Roads, a group of neighbouring cities that also includes Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Norfolk's population at 231,105 (1 July 2024).
For students, Norfolk offers two public universities within one city and a regional transport network of buses, light rail and ferries. College Navigator, the U.S. Department of Education's college search tool, classifies both campuses as being in a midsize city.
Studying in Norfolk
Our directory lists two schools in Norfolk, both universities.
Old Dominion University (ODU), at 5115 Hampton Boulevard, is a four-year public university with the Carnegie classification for very high research activity. According to College Navigator, it has 23,743 students, 17,746 of them undergraduates, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1. It awards certificates and bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. For autumn 2024 it received 15,100 undergraduate applications and admitted 90% of applicants.
Norfolk State University (NSU), at 700 Park Avenue, is a four-year public university and a historically Black college or university (HBCU). It has a 134-acre campus and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. College Navigator counts 6,053 students, 5,410 of them undergraduates, and a ratio of 15 to 1. For autumn 2024 it received 11,247 undergraduate applications and admitted 88% of applicants.
Teaching is in English at both universities. The US academic year usually runs from August to May, according to EducationUSA, the State Department's advising network. Undergraduate programmes lead to a bachelor's degree, normally in four years; graduate programmes follow a bachelor's degree and lead to a master's or doctoral degree.
Student visa
International students normally need an F student visa, which covers study at an accredited college or university. You first apply to and are accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Its international student office then sends a Form I-20 (or a DS-2019 for J exchange programmes) to present when you apply for the visa. With that office's permission, international students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week in their first year.
Cost of living for students
International students pay the out-of-state rate at public universities. According to College Navigator, a first-year undergraduate at Old Dominion University paid $33,780 in out-of-state tuition and fees in 2024-25, plus $14,878 for food and housing on campus. The estimated total for an out-of-state student living on campus was $54,018.
At Norfolk State University, out-of-state tuition and fees were $21,682 in 2024-25 and food and housing on campus $11,591, for an estimated total of $39,053. These amounts change every year, so check each university's current cost page.
Public transport is a small part of the budget. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) charges $2.00 for a single adult trip by bus, ferry or light rail, $4.50 for a 1-day GoPass, $22.00 for a 7-day GoPass and $70.00 for a 30-day GoPass (fares in force since 1 July 2023).
Getting around and daily life
HRT runs buses, light rail and the Elizabeth River Ferry, with routes in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News. Its 757 Express services are high-frequency, express and limited-stop buses that link major employment areas and attractions. Children and teenagers aged 17 and under ride free with a fare-paying adult.
Winters are mild and summers hot. NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Norfolk International Airport give an average temperature of 42.2 °F (about 6 °C) in January and 81.1 °F (about 27 °C) in July.
Frequently asked questions
Which universities are in Norfolk, Virginia?
Our directory lists Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University. Both are four-year public universities.
How much does a year at a public university in Norfolk cost for an international student?
For 2024-25, College Navigator gives out-of-state totals, including food and housing on campus, of $54,018 at Old Dominion University and $39,053 at Norfolk State University.
How much does public transport cost in Norfolk?
A single adult trip on Hampton Roads Transit buses, light rail or ferries costs $2.00 and a 30-day GoPass $70.00.
What is the weather like in Norfolk?
Winters are mild and summers hot: the average temperature is 42.2 °F (about 6 °C) in January and 81.1 °F (about 27 °C) in July, according to NOAA's 1991-2020 normals.