ACCEPTANCE RATE
61.7%
More selective than 67% of listed universities.
SelectiveAccessible
Public University
Delaware State University
Delaware State University is a public four-year institution in Dover, Delaware, offering over 90 undergraduate majors and graduate programs within a diverse HBCU community.
Dover, DEcity 356 acres
61.7%ACCEPTANCE
$15,555AVG NET PRICE
39%GRAD RATE
5,828STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
THE SIGNATURE
Delaware State University Report Card
Explore university facts, programs, and campus life at a glance.
Delaware State University stands as one of the nation's premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities with a legacy dating back to its founding in 1891. The institution operates on a 356-acre suburban campus in Dover, providing a close-knit environment where students from 39 states and 34 countries can thrive alongside experienced faculty.
Academically, the university offers more than 60 paths across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs within four academic colleges. Students have access to over 17 program departments that foster breakthroughs in fields ranging from medicine and military defense to agriculture and aviation.
Beyond the classroom, life at DSU is vibrant with over 100 student organizations and a strong athletic tradition featuring 18 NCAA Division I sports. The campus location offers a small-town feel while remaining within a short drive of major cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
AT A GLANCE
TypePublicFour or more years
Founded1891
Settingcity 356 acres
Calendarsemester
AthleticsNCAA Division I
GETTING IN
Admissions
Gaining admission is the first step on every student's journey at Delaware State University. With an acceptance rate of approximately 61.7 percent based on recent applicant data, the university welcomes a diverse cohort each year. Prospective students may consider SAT math midpoints around 470 for admitted cohorts when evaluating academic preparedness.
Source: IPEDS 2023
SAT RANGE (MID 50%)
860–1,070
4001600
APPLICATION FEE
Undergraduate application fee $35.
WHAT IT COSTS
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker price tells you little — net price after aid is what most families actually pay.
Source: IPEDS 2023
IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
$10,314/yr
Out-of-state: $20,250/yr. Delaware residents pay roughly 49% less.
Net price by income band
$14,776$0–$30,000
$14,338$30,001–$48,000
$16,445$48,001–$75,000
$16,336$75,001–$110,000
$20,170$110,001+
AVERAGE NET PRICE AFTER AID
$15,555/yr
▲ 34% since 2020-2171% receive grants or scholarships
Average grant or scholarship aid $11,949.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Academics
Delaware State University provides extensive educational opportunities through four academic colleges and over 17 program departments. The institution offers more than 60 paths leading to associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across a wide range of disciplines.
Source: IPEDS 2023
Student–faculty ratio
18:1
6-year graduation rate
39%
▼ 4 pts since 2016
First-year retention
72%
Median across 34 institutions in our national dataset: 89%.
Bachelor-level fields offered
92
Bachelor-level fields reported as offered in IPEDS
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Share of bachelor's degree completions, not of all enrolled students.
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.9.9%
Mass Communication/Media Studies.8.2%
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other.7.5%
Psychology, General.6.7%
Business Administration and Management, General.6.7%
Criminology.6.3%
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus & Housing
Reported capacity of institution-controlled housing and campus setting. Capacity does not indicate how many students currently live in university housing.
University-controlled housing capacity
3,230
Includes institution-controlled housing; it may extend beyond campus.
Setting
city 356 acres
AFTER GRADUATION
Student outcomes
Earnings and employment of former students after entering the university.
Source: College Scorecard 2025
Median earnings · 10 yrs after entry
$49,307
Median earnings of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Working after 10 yrs
80.4%
Share of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Earning more than a high-school graduate
74%
74% of former students earn above the Scorecard high-school earnings threshold, ten years after entry.
Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics, and College Scorecard. University Apartments is not affiliated with Delaware State University.