Best Universities & Colleges in Delaware for 2024

These are the 4 top schools, both online and traditional, located in the state of Delaware. Scroll through the list below and get all the information you need about each institution.

Online Colleges in Delaware

Compare all of the best distance education colleges located in Delaware to pursue an online bachelors degree, associates, or online masters program degree. Including cost of tuition, degrees they offer, enrollment rates, faculty, famous alumni, and more.

Recommended Schools

  • Delaware State University Seal

    Delaware State University

    Dover, Delaware

    Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware
    • 4,288 Total Students
    • 44% Acceptance Rate
    • 25% Enrollment Rate
    • 15 to 1 Student to Faculty Ratio
    • 8,141 Total Applicants
    • Yes Online Programs

    A public higher education institute, DSU was founded as Delaware College for Colored Students in the year 1891. It was established by the Delaware General Assembly under the Morrill Act of 1890. It was to provide educational opportunities for the blacks and so became a historically black institute as well as a land grant institute. By 1898 the college was granting degrees, hence progressing as state college.

    Throughout its time, the institute has been renamed several times and as it transformed into a university in 1993, it came to be called as Delaware State University. At the heart of the institute is the mission to provide highest quality education the objective of being inclusive and stepping stone for future success of its students.

    At DSU, students are provided with many opportunities outside of their classrooms to learn while socializing and developing interpersonal relationships. There are various Registered Student Organisations in the field of business, music, media as well as Honor Societies and Greek Life which aim to bring students together in a collaborative social learning space. The most important of these organisations is the Student Government Association which provides a direct exposure to leadership duties and policy making for students that participate. The student government is also an important unit since it works for student welfare and relationship between the faculty and administration, and the students. These also work for bringing events on campus which serve as social activities as well as entertainment for the students. The university also brings spiritual life for its students through campus ministries which are involved in organising fellowships, choir groups and also supporting different religious groups. There are recreational facilities at the campus such as health and wellness facility, club sports and athletic teams, called ‘Hornet’ participating at NCAA Division I. The campus colors are Columbia Blue and Red.

    As for the academic programs, these include 42 undergraduate, 16 master’s and five doctoral degree programs and the notable facilities are William C. Jason Library, Mishoe Science Center, Medgar Evers Hall, Harriet Tubman Hall, Jenkins Hall, Warren-Franklin Hall, Price Building and few more.

    DSU School Facts

    • Years Estd.May 15, 1891
    • NicknameHornet
    • Motto Eng.Enter to Learn, Go forth and serve
    • ColorsColumbia blue and Red
    • LocationDelaware
    • AthleticsNCAA Division I
    • Religious AffiliationNot applicable

    Famous DSU Alumni

    • Wayne Gilchrest

      Politics & Law

      U.S. Representative for Maryland's 1st congressional district from 1990 to 2009

    • Jamaal Jackson

      Professional Sports

      National Football League offensive lineman for Philadelphia Eagles, from 2003 to 2010

    • Clyde Bishop

      Politics & Law

      U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands from 2006 to 2009

    • Marlene Saunders

      Social Advocacy & Service

      Recognized as Delaware social worker of the year in 2008; also professor, scholar and historian

    • Harley F. Taylor

      Business & Industry

      Housing developer and creator of oldest African-American housing development in Dover, Delaware

    • David G. Turner

      Business & Industry

      Executive at Bank of America and recognized by Fortune magazine in 2002 as one of the "50 most powerful black executives in America"


  • University of Delaware Seal

    University of Delaware

    Newark, Delaware

    University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware
    • 22,852 Total Students
    • 67% Acceptance Rate
    • 27% Enrollment Rate
    • 16 to 1 Student to Faculty Ratio
    • 24,881 Total Applicants
    • Yes Online Programs

    The University of Delaware is one of the oldest universities in the US. It started in 1743 in response to a petition by the Presbytery of Lewes that expressed the need for educated clergy. The Rev. Dr. Francis Alison opened the new school in New London, Pennsylvania. The university stayed in New London until it was relocated to Newark in 1765. It became a degree-granting institution in 1834 as the New Ark College, which was later renamed to Delaware College. The university opened a women’s college in 1914, and then the two colleges merged into the institute in 1921 to form the University of Delaware. By 1950, the university quadrupled its enrollment and became a major influencer in the country and the world. In 2009 the university purchased 272 acre parcel of land which was previously a Chrysler plant as a part of Chrysler bankruptcy restructuring plan, the site has been developed to be science, technology and advanced research (STAR) campus.

    Currently, the university covers 2,012 acres with several distinctive buildings including David and Louise Roselle Center for The Arts, Gore Hall and Morris Library. The university athletic teams, who are known as the fightin’ blue hens, compete in NCAA Division I FCS. Their official mascot is the YoUDee, which is a blue hen chicken after the state bird of Delaware. The university publishes 4 student newspapers which are he Review, DEconstruction Magazine, UDress, and The Main Street Journal.

    The university currently has seven colleges and 82 research institutions including Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. University of Delware offers more than 135 undergraduate programs, in addition, it offers 67 doctoral, 142 master’s degree programs, 14 dual degrees, 15 interdisciplinary programs, 12 online programs, and 28 certificate programs. It is commonly ranked among the top 100 universities in the United States by ARWU, U.S. News & World Report and Washington Monthly.

    UD School Facts

    • Years Estd.1743
    • NicknameFightin' Blue Hens
    • MascotYoUDee
    • MottoScientia Sol Mentis Est (Latin)
    • Motto Eng.Knowledge is the light of the mind
    • ColorsDelaware blue, Delaware yellow
    • LocationDelaware
    • AthleticsNCAA Division I FCS
    • Religious AffiliationNot applicable

    Famous UD Alumni

    • Daniel Nathans

      Science & Medicine

      biologist and Nobel Prize winner

    • Hugh M. Morris

      Politics & Law

      Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware

    • John Carney

      Politics & Law

      Governor of Delaware

    • John P. Costas

      Business & Industry

      CEO of UBS Investment Bank

    • L. Heisler Ball

      Politics & Law

      U.S. Senator and Congressman


  • Wilmington University Seal

    Wilmington University

    New Castle, Delaware

    Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware
    • 15,002 Total Students
    • 14 to 1 Student to Faculty Ratio
    • Yes Online Programs

    A private, a nonprofit and a non-sectarian institute, Wilmington University offers education on undergraduate and graduate level. The university originally began as Wilmington College founded by Dr Donald Ross, an educator, in the year 1968. Starting small, with less than 200 hundred students, the institute gained prominence and today has expanded to having thousands of students. To emphasize the institute’s focus on postgraduate education, it was given its present name in 2007.

    It is based in New Castle, Delaware, but has campuses throughout Delaware as well as partnerships in New Jersey and Maryland. Since its inception, the institute has been dedicated to providing equal opportunities to its students for growth and engagement in personal, public and professional sphere.

    For students at the university, the opportunities come in all forms. Education and development are found outside of classrooms as much as inside. Students find more than 35 student clubs and organizations at their disposal in the form of social, cultural, academic as well as honour societies. Students not only get to develop leadership skills by leading these organizations or being part of the Student Government Association, working as student representatives but also get to form friendships and lasting relationships. Students are also provided with a student centre, a comfortable and open space well equipped with TVs, games, vending machines and more, which has become a student favourite spot to hang out with friends. The campus also holds many student events throughout the year which serve as entertainment and time out from usual studies. Some of these are Breakfast with Easter Bunny, Breakfast with Santa, Hoopfest, and Bus Trips. Students are also appreciated for their efforts in academics as well as extracurricular programs through, ‘Student of the Block’ program. The university also has its athletic team called ‘Wildcats’ which compete at NCAA Division II. Its official colours are Green, White and Gold and its mascot is called ‘Wiley D. Wildcat’.

    The academic programs offered are three Associate, 26 Bachelors, 20 Masters and three Doctoral degree programs.

    Wilmington University School Facts

    • Years Estd.1968
    • NicknameWildcats
    • MascotWiley D. Wildcat
    • ColorsGreen and White
    • LocationDelaware
    • AthleticsNCAA Division II -Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference
    • Religious AffiliationNot applicable

    Famous Wilmington University Alumni

    • Paul Bechly

      Science & Medicine

      American chemical engineer

    • Peter C. Schwartzkopf

      Politics & Law

      Speaker, Delaware House of Representatives

    • Terry R. Spence

      Politics & Law

      Former Speaker, Delaware House of Representatives

    • Perry Phelps

      Politics & Law

      Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) Deputy Director

    • Hugh T. Broomall

      Social Advocacy & Service

      Major General, United States Air Force

    • Anthony Allison

      Professional Sports

      Professional Soccer Player

    • John C. Sigler

      Politics & Law

      Former President of the National Rifle Association



All Top Colleges in Delaware

  • Goldey-Beacom College Seal

    Goldey-Beacom College

    Wilmington, Delaware

    • 1,997 Total Students
    • 44% Acceptance Rate
    • 35% Enrollment Rate
    • 19 to 1 Student to Faculty Ratio
    • 774 Total Applicants
    • No Online Programs

    Goldey-Beacom College is a private non-profit educational institute that has been founded in 1886 by Mr. Goldey who was a business educator. The College started with only 5 students under the name of Wilmington Commercial College. Fourteen years later, one of the instructors at the college established a separate educational institute at a location few blocks away from the original Wilmington College. The two institutes were in intense competition for years till they merged in 1951 giving rise to the present institute.

    The college states its mission to provide high quality career focused education. It is currently located at a small campus covering 24-acre piece of land at Pike Greek Valley suburb outside Wilmington, Delaware. The campus consists of 4-apartment-style residence halls, Fulmer Center, West Jones Center in addition to the athletic fields. Its official colors are blue and gold while its mascot is the Lightening. The college athletic teams compete in the NCAA division II as a member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

    The College offers 37 degree programs including undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. All full-time academic staff at the college hold PhD degree in the field that they teach. Programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on higher education and the college is approved by ACBSP and IACBE. Students enrolled at Goldey-Beacom College may get financial support from one of more than 50 undergraduate and graduate scholarships. Students may also benefit from financial aid programs.

    Goldey-Beacom School Facts

    • Years Estd.1886
    • MascotLightning
    • ColorsBlue and Gold
    • LocationDelaware
    • AthleticsNCAA Division II
    • Religious AffiliationNot applicable

    Famous Goldey-Beacom Alumni

    • Sherman W. Tribbitt

      Politics & Law

      former Governor of Delaware

    • John J. Voila

      Politics & Law

      member of the Delaware house of representatives

    • Charles Irwin Stengle

      Politics & Law

      former U.S. representative

    • Walter W. Bacon

      Politics & Law

      former governor of Delaware

    • Richard Cann McMullen

      Politics & Law

      former governor of Delaware


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