Best colleges in Delaware

While Delaware is home to fewer universities, the best colleges in Delaware have made a name for themselves with institutions like the University of Delaware, nationally renowned for its groundbreaking research initiatives. Notably, the University of Delaware pioneered the first study-abroad program in the United States and houses the globally renowned Institute of Energy Conservation, leading the way in photovoltaic research. For aspiring aviation professionals, Delaware State University offers one of the premier aviation schools on the East Coast, while Widener University Delaware Law School, the state's only law school, distinguishes itself through its commitment to sustainable practices and robust environmental law program.

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Studying in Delaware

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The best colleges in Delaware

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#1 in Delaware | #82 in National Universities

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware

Economic score 1.92

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,967

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $67,298

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 80%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Delaware | #215 in National Universities

Wilmington University

New Castle, Delaware

Economic score 3.04

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,186

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $48,187

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 58%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Delaware

Goldey, Beacom College

Wilmington, Delaware

Economic score 4.88

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,375

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,965

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 62%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

Economic score 4.56

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,866

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $42,994

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 44%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

Average income based on education level

The following figures are the average salaries in Delaware for each level of education.

Average Income

The average income of people in this state with a high-school diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, 10 years after enrollment, based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

HS Diploma $26,000
Certificate N/A
Associate N/A
Bachelor $57,606
Master $61,667

Cost of attending college in Delaware

In-state-tuition $15,106

The average in-state tuition, before financial aid, of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Out-of-state-tuition $20,565

The average tuition for out-of-state students, before financial aid of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Most popular degrees in Delaware

In Delaware the most popular degrees are Business Administration, Registered Nursing, and Finance. To create this list, we complied and analyzed data from IPEDS and College Scorecard. 

They both provide information on how many graduates each program has annually. The list below is both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs.  

Fastest growing careers

Delaware job growth 9.1%

Nurse Practitioners
55.3%
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
48.1%
Physician Assistants
40%
Physical Therapist Assistants
40%
Medical and Health Services Managers
37.5%
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
35%
Statisticians
33.3%
Psychiatric Technicians
30.8%
Respiratory Therapists
30%
Construction Managers
29.3%

Best bachelor’s degrees in Delaware

These majors are most likely to pay off economically after graduation.

Best colleges for social mobility in Delaware

Higher education is supposed to act as an economic elevator that lifts students from low-income households into the middle class. But not all colleges do this: unfortunately, many of the nation’s most “prestigious” schools accept very few students from low-income backgrounds. 

To determine what colleges are doing the best job at lifting students out of poverty, we have devised a Social Mobility Index (SMI).  

The best colleges for social mobility in Delaware are shown below.

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