C+
Above Average
Score: 56/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
36/100 · earnings-weighted

Delaware State University

4-Year Public HBCU
📍 Dover, Delaware 19901
Delaware State University campus, Dover, DE
Delaware State University campus, Dover, DE. Photo: Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
C+
61/100
Affordability
C+
59/100
Resources
C+
58/100
Experience
B
70/100
Prestige
D
36/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

5,828
Total Enrollment
39%
Graduation Rate
72%
Retention Rate
18.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
62%
Acceptance Rate
$15,555
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Delaware State University ▼

6% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$335,797
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,545
1-Year Change
+3.7%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Delaware State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$49,307
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$37,503
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$26,000
Median debt at graduation
39.1%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
940
Average SAT
48.5%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 53% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 25th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (DE wage index 1.01). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Delaware State University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science—$98,411-8%#179 of 349#199—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$84,049$94,568+6%#214 of 966#270$29,930
Accounting and Related Services—$72,522-5%#416 of 796#470$25,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations$44,022$59,689-13%#804 of 1176#870$25,500
Biology$39,327$59,296+4%#360 of 841#391$26,000
Social Work$33,413$56,937+10%#91 of 420#91$22,503
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$35,998$55,509+5%#168 of 476#186$23,540
Engineering Physics$54,210————$31,000
Political Science and Government—$53,838-15%#461 of 565#463$25,000
Criminology$30,710$53,128-4%#70 of 113#78$26,000
Agriculture$38,873$52,676-2%#23 of 43#31$21,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$47,728$50,794+7%#209 of 680#312$25,401
Psychology$27,012$49,132-3%#593 of 1027#615$26,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$25,704$49,115-10%#436 of 610#475$26,000
Communication and Media Studies$30,098$46,440-18%#542 of 660#564$25,000

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Delaware State University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $335,797
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,545/mo — vs ~$1,139/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 19934 (4.4% cap, Camden)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $8,544 $18,480
Room $10,248
Board $3,386
Total Cost (On-Campus) $30,236 $40,172

Financial Aid

96%
Receive Any Aid
57%
Receive Pell Grants
59%
Take Out Loans
$15,555
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$14,776
$30,001 - $48,000$14,338
$48,001 - $75,000$16,445
$75,001 - $110,000$16,336
$110,001+$20,170

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Social Work 89 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 71 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other 70 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 56 grads/yr Psychology, General 48 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 47 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 40 grads/yr Criminology 37 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 36 grads/yr Mass Communication/Media Studies 33 grads/yr Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 33 grads/yr Public Health, General 27 grads/yr Computer Science 20 grads/yr Agriculture, General 19 grads/yr Engineering Physics/Applied Physics 13 grads/yr Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General 13 grads/yr Occupational Therapy/Therapist 12 grads/yr Finance, General 11 grads/yr Education, General 11 grads/yr Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other 10 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Delaware State University's top programs commonly pursue.

Social and community service managers
$78k/yr 219,800 jobs
Social work teachers, postsecondary
$76k/yr 17,100 jobs
Social workers, all other
$69k/yr 81,000 jobs
Healthcare social workers
$68k/yr 193,200 jobs
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
$65k/yr 92,300 jobs
Marriage and family therapists
$64k/yr 77,800 jobs
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
$60k/yr 136,800 jobs
Child, family, and school social workers
$59k/yr 399,900 jobs

Student Demographics

5,828
Total Students
65%
Women
89%
Traditional Age (18-24)
6%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 9%
Hispanic 8%
Black 72%
Asian 1%
Two or More 6%
Non-Resident 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 78%
Off-Campus (Renters) 6%
With Family 15%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~367 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 20%
Hybrid (Some Online) 69%
Fully Online 11%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 89%
25-64 (Adult) 5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Delaware State University?
Delaware State University has an acceptance rate of 62%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Delaware State University?
Tuition at Delaware State University is $8,544 for in-state students and $18,480 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $15,555.
What is the graduation rate at Delaware State University?
The graduation rate at Delaware State University is 39%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Delaware State University a good school?
Delaware State University has a Repit College Score of 56/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Delaware State University?
Delaware State University has a total enrollment of 5,828 students. Most students (89%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Delaware State University?
Yes! Approximately 6% of students at Delaware State University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 367 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Delaware State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Delaware State University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry
Dover, DE · 13,231 students
C
Goldey-Beacom College
Wilmington, DE · 1,074 students
C
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE · 14,678 students
B
University of Delaware
Newark, DE · 24,221 students
D
Delaware Technical Community College-Central Office
Dover, DE · 0 students
F
Strayer University-Delaware
Wilmington, DE · 269 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology