Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Colleges / DE / Dover
Delaware State University logo

Delaware State University

Public Dover, DE · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
39%
Graduation Rate
$49,307
Earnings (10yr)
$13,910
Net Price
47%
Acceptance Rate
AD Powered by BestColleges

Quick Degree Finder

Find an Accredited Program

Accepting applicants in this field now.

Results are sponsored program matches from BestColleges, our advertising partner. Privacy Terms

Why Delaware State University Matters

Delaware State University is a public university in Dover, DE and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
4,398
Setting
Urban
Designations
HBCU
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Humanities, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose Delaware State University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
HBCU community
A historically Black college with a strong leadership pipeline
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 43% overall
B-
Earnings
$49,307 median
B-
Value
3.5× net price
C+
Affordability
$13,910/yr net
D
Graduation
39% graduate
A-
Selectivity
47% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.41 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Delaware State University has a 39% graduation rate, a key indicator of student success. This means that less than four in ten students complete their degree within six years. For prospective students, this statistic highlights the importance of support systems and campus resources to help them stay on track.

The earnings data for graduates is promising. Ten years after graduation, alumni earn an average of $49,307. While the mobility rate data is not available, this earning potential suggests that students can achieve financial stability after completing their studies at Delaware State. The school serves a diverse student body, with nearly half of the students receiving Pell Grants, indicating a significant number of low-income students.

In terms of cost, the net price to attend Delaware State is $13,910, with a median debt of $26,000 upon graduation. Students who thrive here tend to be those who seek strong programs in fields like business, health professions, and psychology. The combination of affordability and targeted academic programs can attract students looking for practical pathways to career success.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Delaware State University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Delaware State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Dover, Delaware, Delaware State University reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 47%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 940. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 39%.

Acceptance Rate 47%
Retention Rate 70%
SAT Average 940
SAT Range 800–1020
ACT Range 20–24
Full-Time Faculty 54%
Faculty Salary (mo) $8,869
Student–Faculty Ratio 16:1
Diversity Index 0.41
First-Gen Students 36%
Applicants 7,109
Admitted 3,904
2

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Delaware State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Delaware State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $20,634 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $13,910 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,135 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.

$10,670
In-State Tuition
$20,634
Out-of-State
$13,910
Avg Net Price
$26,000
Median Debt
49%
Pell Grant Rate
52%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$11,135
Family Income $0–$30K
$12,452
Family Income $30K–$48K
$15,701
Family Income $48K–$75K
$17,326
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Delaware State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Delaware State University earn a median of $49,307, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$37,503
6 Years After Entry
$43,083
8 Years
$49,307
10 Years
0.53x
Debt-to-Earnings
56%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$37,503 6yr $43,083 8yr $49,307 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

34%
100% (299)
34%
100% (299)
34%
100% (299)
34%
100% (299)

How Delaware Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation39%Earnings 10yr$49KNet Price$14KRetention70%Median Debt$26KPell Grant Rate49%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$16K$48-75K$17K$110K+
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Delaware State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Delaware State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.42 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.42
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.03
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
3.4%
Volunteering Rate
0.99
Support Ratio
Community support

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$179,084
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Delaware State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Delaware State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Based in Dover, Delaware, Delaware State University reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 47%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 940. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 39%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Delaware State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Delaware State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $20,634 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $13,910 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,135 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.

Is Delaware State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Delaware State University earn a median of $49,307, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

How Connected Is Delaware State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Delaware State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.42 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Delaware State University.

Featured Founding members · limited to 12
The American Dream College Index →

Ten colleges. Unlimited leads through your profile. A custom review families read at the decision point — for $2,500/year.

12 of 12 founding spots open · held for 12 months · See how it works