List of colleges and universities in Delaware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are six colleges and universities in Delaware. These institutions include two research universities, two master's university, one associates colleges, and one special-focus institution. Three of Delaware's post-secondary institutions are private and three are public.
Delaware's oldest post-secondary institution is the University of Delaware, which was chartered by the Delaware General Assembly as a degree-granting college in 1833.[note 1] The University of Delaware is also the state's largest institution of higher learning in terms of enrollment, with 24,412 students as of 2024.[3] Wilmington University is Delaware's largest private post-secondary institution, with an enrollment of 13,746.[3]
Delaware has two land-grant universities: Delaware State University and the University of Delaware.[4] The University of Delaware is also the state's sole participant in the National Sea Grant College Program and the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program.[5][6] In addition, Delaware State University is the one historically black college and university in the state, and is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.[7][8] Delaware previously had two private post-secondary institutions for men and women respectively: St. Mary's College and Wesleyan Female College respectively.[9][10]
The state does not have a medical school, but the Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research reserves spaces for Delaware students at two medical schools in Philadelphia.[11] Delaware has one law school, Widener University Delaware Law School.[12] All six of Delaware's post-secondary institutions are institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.[13]
Extant institutions
| Institution | Location(s) | Control | Type[note 2] | Enrollment (fall 2024)[15] |
Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State University | Dover | Public | Master's university | 5,327 | 1891[16] |
| Delaware Technical Community College | Dover, Georgetown, Stanton, and Wilmington | Public | Associate's college | 13,337 | 1967[17] |
| Goldey–Beacom College | Pike Creek Valley | Private | Master's university | 1,001 | 1886[18] |
| University of Delaware | Newark | Public | Research university | 24,412 | 1833[note 1] |
| Widener University Delaware Law School | Wilmington | Private | Law school | 1975[19] | |
| Wilmington University | New Castle | Private | Research university | 13,746 | 1968[20] |
Defunct institutions
| Institution | Location(s) | Control | Founded | Closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandywine Junior College | Wilmington[21] | Private[21] | 1966[21] | 1991[21] | Entered into a merger with Widener University in 1976 and graduated its final class in 1991. Campus now serves as Widener University Delaware Law School.[21] |
| Delaware College of Art and Design | Wilmington | Private | 1997 | 2024 | On May 23, 2024, the college announced it would be winding down operations and close permanently. |
| St. Mary's College | Wilmington[9] | Private[9] | 1841[9] | 1866[9] | Catholic institution closed in 1866 following the American Civil War.[22] |
| Wesley College | Dover[10] | Private[10] | 1873[10] | 2021[10] | Acquired by Delaware State University in 2021.[23] |
| Wesleyan Female College | Wilmington[10] | Private[10] | 1837[10] | 1885[10] | Methodist institution for women. Following its closing, no college for women existed in Delaware until the Women's College of Delaware opened in 1914.[24] |
| Women's College of Delaware | Newark[25] | Public[25] | 1914[25] | 1945[25] | Merged into the University of Delaware in 1945.[25] |
