Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Delaware #239 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,675, placing University of Delaware in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Finance #43 nationally for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level anchor that reflects the university's concentration in business and applied fields. Students at University of Delaware earn about $5,349 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 35.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's return on investment rank — #285 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflects strong graduate earnings relative to what students pay, anchored by a dominant business program and broad career-ready degree offerings across Newark's mid-Atlantic labor market.
Azimuth ranks University of Delaware #239 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Newark, DE, University of Delaware enrolls roughly 19,071 undergraduates. Retention stands at 92.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 80.5%, figures that reflect strong institutional follow-through from enrollment to degree completion. Where University of Delaware performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Delaware #286 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,675, and graduates earn about $5,349 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Delaware in the 35.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, and the university's business-leaning degree mix helps explain the strength of its post-graduation earnings profile. The composite is shaped by variation across the remaining pillars. University of Delaware sits in the 89.4 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions and in the 47.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access sits in the 61.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions — University of Delaware admits about 70.6% of applicants, and 16.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 17.1% are first-generation college students. For families weighing long-term financial outcomes against upfront cost, the balance of strong earnings and moderate access defines University of Delaware's position in .
University of Delaware's published cost of attendance is $30,952. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $10,901, middle-income families pay around $13,225, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,580. Azimuth ranks University of Delaware #748 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of Delaware participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure is need-based; families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,572, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $43,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,675, median federal debt of $24,572 projects to a monthly payment of about $278 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Delaware is a strong fit for students drawn to business, finance, and related professional fields who want a public research university experience in Newark, DE, with clear pathways to competitive post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,675, placing University of Delaware in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $5,349 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 35.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 16.1% of undergraduates who receive Pell Grants and 17.1% who are first-generation students, with a Pell completion rate of 75.3% — a signal that the university supports access students through to graduation. Higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $25,580, and median student debt at graduation is $24,572. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with that orientation will find the strongest outcomes; and the admission rate of 70.6% means the application process is moderately competitive rather than broadly open.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Delaware hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Delaware's published cost of attendance is $30,952. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $10,901, middle-income families pay around $13,225, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,580.
Azimuth ranks University of Delaware #748 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
University of Delaware participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure is need-based; families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,572, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $43,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,675, median federal debt of $24,572 projects to a monthly payment of about $278 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Lynchburg earn median 4-year earnings of $77,675, placing University of Delaware in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,349 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Delaware in the 35.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Delaware #286 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied and health-related fields.
Finance is the largest program with 310 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $101,605, representing 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Research Psychology program graduates 234 students earning $63,614, while Digital Marketing and Kinesiology round out the top programs with 216 and 210 graduates respectively.
The concentration in Business — the institution's dominant program family — anchors the earnings profile and aligns with regional healthcare and life-sciences employer demand in the Lynchburg area.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
150 graduates
Computer Engineering
22 graduates
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
76 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
106 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
97 graduates
University of Delaware's program mix is anchored in biological sciences, health professions, and business fields—a portfolio reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity with professional preparation. Finance is the largest program with 310 graduates, followed by Research Psychology, Digital Marketing, Kinesiology, and Biology, General.
Across 80 total programs, 59 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional and national labor-market demand. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health and applied-science fields.
Finance leads with median earnings of $101,605 four years after enrollment across 310 graduates, followed by Nursing with $98,486 and Digital Marketing with $88,383. Kinesiology and Biology, General round out the highest-earning programs, each delivering competitive four-year outcomes.
The concentration of strength in Business reflects both the institution's academic focus and the stable labor-market demand for graduates in health and life-sciences pathways. Several of these programs represent high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes—particularly in nursing, allied health, and business fields.
Others, including biology and chemistry, are foundational sciences where a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school, meaning four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how University of Delaware's dominant program families align with regional and national workforce trends in healthcare and life sciences.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Cincinnati-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#8569 ranked) | OH | 85% | $54,810 | #8569 | Compare |
University Of Memphis Similar quality tier in Southeast (#9096 ranked) | TN | 72% | $48,458 | #9096 | Compare |
University Of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Similar quality tier (#9097 ranked) | PR | 57% | $48,992 | #9097 | Compare |
Clemson University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#9611 ranked) | SC | 38% | $71,513 | #9611 | Compare |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Similar quality tier (#9612 ranked) | IL | 98% | $56,346 | #9612 | Compare |
