Education Hub

Norfolk is the educational hub of the region, home to Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, and Tidewater Community College. With five additional colleges or universities and two additional community colleges throughout Hampton Roads, combined with other specialized educational institutions, these schools provide a variety of courses, locations, and traditions to suit a wide range of people. The educational programs in the Hampton Roads region, especially Norfolk, contribute to the development of a highly-skilled talent pool that benefits all types of businesses in Norfolk, VA.

In total, there are over 67,000 full-time equivalent students enrolled at all eleven higher education institutions in the metropolitan area (four-year public, four-year private, and two-year public). 48% of all full-time equivalent students enrolled at four-year institutions in the metropolitan area attend one of the four-year institutions in Norfolk (ODU, NSU, and VHS).

Norfolk Higher Education Institutions

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University (VHS)
Old Dominion University and Eastern Virginia Medical School integrated on July 1, 2024, to form Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. The affiliation created the largest, most comprehensive suite of healthcare programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing 56 health sciences programs, some of which are not offered elsewhere in Virginia. Grounded in a commitment to the diverse communities in which it serves, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University will develop a larger pipeline for healthcare professionals and lead the transformation of the health and economy of Hampton Roads and beyond. The Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University includes Eastern Virginia Medical School, the EVMS School of Health Professions, the Ellmer College of Health Sciences, the Ellmer School of Nursing, and the Joint School of Public Health. In the 2023-2024 Academic Year, nearly 1,200^[1] full-time equivalent students were enrolled at EVMS.
(Source: EVMS and ODU News – Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Hampton Roads and Education – Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University)

Norfolk State University (NSU)
Norfolk State University is a four-year, public, urban, coeducational comprehensive university offering programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The new Norfolk State University Innovation Center – On the Main (NSUIC) is designed and developed to support an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Hampton Roads through collaboration with the city of Norfolk and other cities in Hampton Roads, Small Business Association (SBA), and other entrepreneurial related organizations. Partnerships and collaboration are the core of the center’s approach to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the city of Norfolk. The center’s immediate purpose will serve as a business incubator to develop business competitiveness, jobs creation, investment opportunities, infrastructural improvements, global inclusion and participation within the Hampton Roads community. In the 2023-2024 Academic Year, nearly 5,500^[1] full-time equivalent students were enrolled at NSU.
(Source: University at a Glance – Norfolk State University and About | NSU Innovation Center | NSU – Norfolk State University)

Old Dominion University (ODU)
Old Dominion University is Virginia’s forward-focused public doctoral research university, with a top R1 research designation, rigorous academics, and an energetic, diverse campus community. It is nationally recognized for excellence in academics, social mobility and military friendliness. ODU has nationally known research strengths in coastal resilience, modeling and simulation, bioelectrics, cybersecurity, and port logistics and maritime engineering. The University’s business and research initiatives contribute $3.8 billion annually to Virginia’s economy. The ODU Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IIE) provides focused business counseling, advisory, and support services through robust, inclusive, and compliant sponsored programs to foster economic development for the Hampton Roads, Virginia region. Located in the heart of Norfolk’s business district, the IIE is a dynamic and forward-looking organization keen on expanding the economic ecosystem of Hampton Roads, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Region.  They provide a wide array of entrepreneurship services through their Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), Women’s Business Center (WBC), and the Business Development Center (BDC). They do this through popular programs like “Double TAP,” “Boots to Business,” “Dream Builder,” and the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), just to name a few. The institute’s Navigator program guides innovation-driven entrepreneurs through the commercialization process and provides targeted grant-writing support. For more advanced entrepreneurs, their OpenSeas, and TempO programs provide catered, full-spectrum assistance. In the 2023-2024 Academic Year, over 18,600^[1] full-time equivalent students were enrolled at ODU.
(Source: About Us | Old Dominion University, Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Old Dominion University, and University Facts & Figures | Old Dominion University)

Tidewater Community College (TCC)
Tidewater Community College (TCC) serves South Hampton Roads with 4 campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, and 6 regional centers. TCC is the second largest of the 23 Virginia community colleges. It has grown from 1 campus into a regional educational and economic force. Tidewater Community College provides collegiate education and workforce training to individuals of all ages, helping them achieve their goals and contribute to the vitality of the regional and global community. The college has 13 nationally accredited academic programs. TCC is also a very popular choice among military-related students, who make up about one-third of TCC’s enrollment. In the 2023-2024 Academic Year, nearly 10,200^[1] full-time equivalent students were enrolled at TCC.
(Source: About TCC | Tidewater Community College, TCC.EDU and Final_2023-24_2022-23_annualenrollment.pdf)
[1] State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Research Report E05A: Annualized Student FTE by Student Level Group 2023-2024)