University of Delaware
Newark, DE
70.6%
Acceptance Rate
$16,810
Avg Cost (In-State)
$41,400
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
79.7%
Graduation Rate
19,071
Total Enrollment
By the numbers
University of Delaware, at a glance
Graduation rate is the standard federal 6-year completion rate (students often take longer than four years). Earnings & selectivity rankings are computed across every US college in our catalog. Figures from College Scorecard / IPEDS; sticker cost is before financial aid.
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$75
Interview
Not required
Essays: One personal essay required through Common Application (650 word maximum)
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$37,503
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$49,307
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
39%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | $66,889 | $101,605 | 359 |
| Marketing. | $54,390 | $88,383 | 328 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $81,286 | $98,486 | 312 |
| Economics. | $55,905 | $95,318 | 202 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $41,897 | $70,414 | 196 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $48,587 | $56,301 | 190 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $58,041 | $89,105 | 177 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $74,313 | $93,873 | 173 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Calculate Your Cost at University of Delaware
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Delaware Educational Benefit Scholarship
Varies; for dependents of veterans
stateChildren of DE military veterans with service-connected disability or death.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Delaware SEED Scholarship
Tuition + fees at DE TCC / DTCC
stateDE residents with 2.5+ GPA enrolling at DE Tech Community College within 1 year of HS graduation.
Deadline: May 31
Learn more ↗University of Delaware Presidential Scholarship
Up to full tuition + fees + summer enrichment
universityTop UD incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: November 15
Learn more ↗University of Delaware Distinguished Scholar Award
Up to full tuition + fees
universityTop UD freshmen via competitive process; DE residents preferred.
Deadline: November 15
Learn more ↗Delaware Inspire Scholarship
Tuition gap at Delaware State University
stateDE residents with 2.75+ GPA pursuing a bachelor's at Delaware State.
Deadline: May 1
Learn more ↗Autism Delaware Family Support Scholarship
Varies
stateDelaware residents on the autism spectrum pursuing higher ed; Autism Delaware-administered.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Delaware Higher Education Office Need-Based Scholarship
$1,000-$5,000
stateDE HS seniors with high academic record + financial need.
Deadline: May
Learn more ↗Delaware Chafee Education and Training Voucher
Up to $5,000/year
stateDE current/former foster youth ages 14-23; DE DSCYF Chafee.
Deadline: Rolling
Learn more ↗Delaware Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP)
Up to $2,200/year
stateDE residents with significant financial need at DE/select out-of-state institutions.
Deadline: April 15
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $10,901 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $10,099 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $13,225 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $17,401 |
| $110,001+ | $25,580 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for University of Delaware →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 70.6% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
70.6%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Regular Decision
71%
acceptance
Overall ~73%.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
15.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
18.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
35.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
15.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
25.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
92.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
83.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL
69.8% acceptance
Both admit around 70% of applicants, with 11k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
71.5% acceptance
Both admit around 72% of applicants, with 21k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
SUNY Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
72% acceptance
Both admit around 72% of applicants, with 32k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
72% acceptance
Similar selectivity (72% vs 71%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $41k.
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN
76.1% acceptance
Similar selectivity (76% vs 71%) but out-of-state cost runs $16k — meaningfully less than $41k.
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA
67.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (68% vs 71%) but out-of-state cost runs $17k — meaningfully less than $41k.
Reaches above this college
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
24.2% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (24% vs 71%) — a stretch target if University of Delaware is already on your list.
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 71%) — a stretch target if University of Delaware is already on your list.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 71%) — a stretch target if University of Delaware is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA
86.4% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (86% vs 71%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA
87.9% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (88% vs 71%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
89% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (89% vs 71%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From DE community colleges
articulation onlyUDel accepts transfers via the Associate in Arts Program, a formal partnership between UDel and Delaware Technical Community College (Delaware Tech) that guarantees admission to UDel for students who complete the AA at one of three regional Delaware Tech campuses with a 2.5+ GPA.…
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