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 25,903 students as of 2022. [3] Wilmington University is Delaware's largest private post-secondary institution, with an enrollment of 19,295. [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]
Institution | Location(s) | Control | Type [note 2] | Enrollment (2022) [note 3] | Founded |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delaware State University | Dover | Public | Master's university | 5,770 | 1891 [15] |
Delaware Technical Community College | Dover, Georgetown, Stanton, and Wilmington | Public | Associate's college | 15,960 | 1967 [16] |
Goldey–Beacom College | Pike Creek Valley | Private | Master's university | 1,303 | 1886 [17] |
University of Delaware | Newark | Public | Research university | 25,903 | 1833 [note 1] |
Widener University Delaware Law School | Wilmington | Private | Law school | 515 [18] | 1975 [19] |
Wilmington University | New Castle | Private | Research university | 19,295 | 1968 [20] |
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] |
Explanatory notes
Citations