Delaware State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Dover, Delaware. It enrolls 4,398 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes23
Value76
Affordability80
Selectivity44
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 46.6%, Delaware State University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
46.6%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
800 – 1020
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Delaware State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Delaware State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,910 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,910
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
49%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
52%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,670
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,634
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,664
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,290
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,970
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,970
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,939
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,135
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,452
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,701
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,633
Over $110,000
$17,326
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,00025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$30,93775%percentile
$41,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,750
↓ $7,250
No Pell $13,250
↓ $12,750
Dependent students $17,500
↓ $8,500
Independent students $19,000
↓ $7,000
Female students $18,047
↓ $7,953
Male students $16,250
↓ $9,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at Delaware State University graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Delaware State University earn a median of $49,307 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,307
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
23.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 59% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Delaware State University is home to 4,398 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,398
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 75.9%3,340
Hispanic 8.3%363
White 6.2%274
Other 6.1%266
International 2.1%94
Asian 0.9%39
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Delaware State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityDover, Delaware
Housing
Strongly residential3,230 beds for 4,398 students
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Delaware State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
57 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Delaware State University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,303
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$41M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,143
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
229 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
61
27%
$90,671
Associate Professors
89
39%
$77,975
Assistant Professors
45
20%
$66,398
Instructors
1
0%
$48,142
Lecturers
33
14%
$56,577
Pros & Cons of Delaware State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Delaware State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Frequently Asked Questions about Delaware State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Delaware State University.
Is Delaware State University hard to get into?
Delaware State University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 46.6%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Delaware State University?
Delaware State University has an acceptance rate of 46.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Delaware State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Delaware State University scored between 800 and 1020 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Delaware State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Delaware State University scored between 20 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Delaware State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Delaware State University is $13,910 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Delaware State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,307 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,910 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Delaware State University known for?
Delaware State University is best known for its programs in Social Work, Nursing, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Delaware State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Delaware State University are $49,307, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Delaware State University accredited?
Yes. Delaware State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Delaware State University?
Delaware State University enrolls 4,398 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Delaware State University?
Delaware State University graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Delaware State University a public or private college?
Delaware State University is a Public institution.
Where is Delaware State University located?
Delaware State University is located in Dover, Delaware.
What programs does Delaware State University offer?
Delaware State University offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Work, Nursing, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Delaware State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Delaware State University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Delaware
Other colleges in Delaware share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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