Old Dominion University (ODU) is a large public research university located in historic Norfolk, Virginia, United States. It was established in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary. ODU awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1956, became Old Dominion College in 1962, and attained university status in 1969. ODU offers a full range of degree programs and is one of the nation's largest providers of online distance learning courses. Old Dominion University derives its name from one of Virginia's state nicknames, "The Old Dominion." Given to the state by King Charles II of England for remaining loyal to the crown during the English Civil War, the nickname serves as a reminder of ODU's royal roots. The College Guide of Washington Monthly Magazine, which rates institutions based on their record for good works as well as research, places Old Dominion University at 120 in a ranking of 242 major colleges and universities. According to the National Science Foundation, eighteen ODU programs are ranked amongst the top 100 of their respective national peers in terms of R&D expenditures. The university is ranked 61st in total R&D expenditures amongst institutions without affiliated medical schools, 79th in DOD research, and 51st in NASA research.
