2025 Best Colleges in Delaware

March 5, 2025

The First State of Delaware may have been the first to ratify the Constitution, but it’s relatively small population (45th largest in the US) prevents it from being first in the nation when it comes to higher education destination points. In fact, there are only a handful of 4-year-degree-granting institutions in the entire state. Still, a few excellent options are on the table. The following list of the best colleges in Delaware is meant to give you an idea of how to narrow down your search and find the best-fit institution to meet your unique needs. Each profile card contains data that is intended to give a better sense of the academic offerings and outcomes at each institution.

Methodology

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges in Delaware As you’ll see, some schools with spectacular (and deserved) reputations simply do not happen to fare well on metrics such as student-to-faculty ratio or spending per student. We understand that a list based solely on prestige/general reputation would look different than what you will find below.

Best Colleges in Delaware

Here’s a quick preview of the top Delaware-based institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) University of Delaware

2) Delaware State University

3) Wilmington University

All of the Best Colleges in Delaware profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the most desirable employers and graduate schools in the country. College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

Enrollment
Cost of Attendance
Acceptance Rate
Median SAT
Median ACT
Retention Rate
Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each school’s:

Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

Also view our:

#1 Best College in Delaware

University of Delaware

Newark, DE

Academic Highlights: The University of Delaware offers over 90 bachelor’s degree programs. Its student-to-faculty ratio is only 12:1, an excellent figure for a public institution. Blue Hens do find themselves in an occasional larger lecture hall as 18% of sections enroll 50+ students, but 60% of all courses enroll fewer than 30 students. Those who are ambitious and aggressive can unearth research opportunities at U of D; 700 students are actively involved in faculty-mentored research. The university has the oldest study abroad program in the nation. At over 100 years old, the program entices more than 30% of undergraduates to spend a semester in one of 40 foreign countries.

Professional Outcomes: 94% of Class of 2023 grads quickly found their next destination. 65% were employed, with 71% taking jobs at for-profit companies, 16% at nonprofits, 8% in K-12 education, and 5% with a government entity. The greatest number of newly minted alums were hired by JPMorgan Chase & Co., KPMG, EY, ChristianaCare, and PwC. The median starting salary for this cohort was $62,520. 29% immediately pursued an advanced degree, with 68% entering master’s programs, 19% entering a professional program, and 6% beginning a PhD.

Enrollment: 19,772
Cost of Attendance: $33,718 (In-State); $57,358 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1290
Median ACT: 29
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Retention Rate: 90%
Graduation Rate: 81%

Delaware State University

Dover, Delaware

Academic Highlights: As one of the nation’s premier Historically Black Universities, Delaware State University offers students 47 undergraduate degree programs across four academic colleges. The university maintains an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio, blending the resources of a comprehensive institution with personalized attention. This combination of academic breadth and supportive learning environment allows students to pursue diverse fields of study while benefiting from the unique cultural and intellectual experience of an HBCU education.

Professional Outcomes: Delaware State graduates launch successful careers with leading employers, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and ChristianaCare. Many alumni establish themselves in the Greater Philadelphia region, while a significant contingent contributes to Delaware’s workforce in Dover. These outcomes reflect DSU’s dual impact as both a pipeline for regional talent and a nationally recognized institution preparing graduates for competitive positions.

Enrollment: 4,941
Cost of Attendance: $30,236 (In-State); $40,172 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 970
Median ACT: 23
Acceptance Rate: 62%
Retention Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 39%

Wilmington University

New Castle, Delaware

Academic Highlights: Wilmington University prepares career-ready professionals through its practitioner-focused approach, offering 49 undergraduate majors and 21 minors designed for today’s global marketplace. With an excellent 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students benefit from personalized instruction by faculty who are active experts in their fields. The university’s experience-rich curricula emphasize practical skills and real-world applications, creating graduates who can immediately contribute to their chosen professions.

Professional Outcomes: Wilmington alumni achieve strong career placement with leading employers, including JPMorgan Chase, ChristianaCare, and the State of Delaware. Many graduates choose to build their careers in the vibrant Delaware Valley region, particularly in the Wilmington and Newark areas, while others contribute to the Greater Philadelphia economy. These outcomes demonstrate how Wilmington’s combination of industry-experienced faculty, career-aligned programs, and personalized attention produces professionals who excel in numerous sectors.

Enrollment: 9,355
Cost of Attendance: $21,930
Median SAT: Not Reported
Median ACT: Not Reported
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 56%
Graduation Rate: 23%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges in Delaware to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

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Michael Trivette

A former admissions professional and adjunct faculty member, Michael knows firsthand what students need in order to be successful on a college campus. His experience in college admissions, enrollment management, intercollegiate athletics, student support services, student life and other areas, allows him to help students transition smoothly into the best good-fit colleges.