Marketing at Old Dominion University

Old Dominion's marketing program sits squarely in the middle of Virginia's options, matching the state median exactly at $43,395 in first-year earnings. While this trails top programs like James Madison ($61,692) and Virginia Tech ($56,417), it beats several in-state competitors and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide. The real differentiator here is debt: at $27,125, graduates leave with significantly more than the state median of $22,928, creating a 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio that's still manageable but less favorable than some peers.

The trajectory looks reasonable—19% earnings growth over four years brings graduates to nearly $52,000, showing steady career progression typical of marketing roles. However, the program's admission rate of 91% and modest outcomes suggest this isn't a selective pipeline into top-tier marketing positions. Students here are getting solid, middle-market preparation rather than access to the premium employers that recruit from JMU or Virginia Tech.

For families considering this against other Virginia options, the question comes down to net cost after aid. If Old Dominion's actual price matches or beats VCU or Radford (which also produce lower outcomes), the value proposition holds. But if you're paying similar tuition to those higher-ranked programs, the extra debt combined with middle-of-the-pack earnings makes this a harder sell.