The second smallest state in the U.S., but the sixth most densely populated, Delaware hosts nine colleges and universities: three public, one for-profit, and five nonprofit institutions. If you prefer a two-year college, Delaware offers two degree-granting schools fitting this profile.
Below, you can find an overview of higher education in Delaware, including information about online options in the state and tuition breaks for out-of-state students. We also discuss the job outlook for college graduates in Delaware and scholarships and financial aid opportunities for online students in the "First State." You can use our list of the best accredited online colleges in Delaware to decide which school best suits your needs.
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Overview of Online Colleges in Delaware
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Delaware
In the 2015-16 school year alone, degree-granting institutions in Delaware enrolled over 61,100 students. Prospective students seeking online colleges in Delaware may be curious how much students pay for tuition at these schools. As in other states, students who qualify for in-state tuition pay much lower rates than out-of-state learners. Fortunately, many colleges and universities offer in-state tuition rates to all online learners regardless of where they live. In some cases, out-of-state online learners may qualify for programs that make tuition more affordable. According to College Board, in-state tuition and fees for four-year public schools in Delaware during the 2017-18 school year reached $12,300. Tuition at the state's flagship school, University of Delaware, costs $13,200 for in-state students and $33,150 for out-of-state learners.[dataviz-stats public="3" non-profit="5" for-profit="1"]Learners enrolled in online colleges in Delaware qualify for many financial aid opportunities, and students in the state receive substantial assistance to pay for school. The National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs annual survey reports that Delaware students received almost $23 million in grants and other types of aid in the 2015-16 school year. This includes nearly $12 million of need-based grants and $8.5 million in grants without a need-based component.
Higher Education in Delaware
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Delaware
Online higher education in Delaware slightly outpaces national trends in distance learning. According to an Online Learning Survey, 30% of learners (18,000 students) enrolled in higher education in the state take one or more online courses. Students enrolled in Delaware community college online courses or university distance courses for the entirety of their education make up 10.1% of all learners in the state (6,100 students). This includes 3,900 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students taking all coursework online. Of the exclusively online students, 65.4% live in Delaware, with the rest residing outside the state. The percentage of students taking hybrid coursework is 89.9%, or 52,300 individuals.[dataviz-nces online="10.1" undergrad="63.9" in-state="65.4"]
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
Tuition for out-of-state students often exceeds the rate for in-state learners. This can make the prospect of attending an out-of-state school seem daunting. The nonprofit Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) helps Delaware residents afford colleges and universities located outside the state. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, SREB works to improve public education and helps states share resources to accomplish goals.SREB's Academic Common Market (ACM) program makes more than 1,900 academic programs (both graduate and undergraduate) in 15 states available to Delaware residents. Participating students pay in-state tuition. Other SREB states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Not every institution in these states qualifies for the ACM program, however. Students can search eligible programs in SREB's ACM program inventory.
Best Online Colleges in Delaware
Below, you can find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Delaware. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education, their services for distance students, and the fully online degrees available. After reviewing the best online schools in Delaware, explore our state resources, including a database of every college and university in Delaware and our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Delaware
Below, you'll find all of the online schools in Delaware sorted by their tuition rates.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online colleges is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in DE with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Delaware
Job Outlook for College Graduates in Delaware
Graduates of online colleges in Delaware can look forward to a favorable job market over the next several years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports an unemployment rate of only 3.9% for Delaware in August 2018. This low rate of unemployment suggests that most individuals, particularly those highly educated and experienced, will not struggle to find job openings. Additionally, Delaware's mean annual wage for all occupations of $52,200 (or $25.10 an hour) remains higher than the national average of $50,600 (or $24.34 an hour).