There are eight colleges and universities in Delaware. These institutions include two research universities, one master's university, one baccalaureate college, two associates colleges, and two special-focus institutions. Five 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] The Delaware College of Art and Design is the state's smallest institution of higher learning with an enrollment of 111.[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 eight 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 (2022)[note 3] | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware College of Art and Design | Wilmington | Private | Associate's college | 111 | 1997[15] |
| Delaware State University | Dover | Public | Master's university | 5,770 | 1891[16] |
| Delaware Technical Community College | Dover, Georgetown, Stanton, and Wilmington | Public | Associate's college | 15,960 | 1967[17] |
| Goldey–Beacom College | Pike Creek Valley | Private | Master's university | 1,303 | 1886[18] |
| University of Delaware | Newark | Public | Research university | 25,903 | 1833[note 1] |
| Widener University Delaware Law School | Wilmington | Private | Law school | 515[19] | 1975[20] |
| Wilmington University | New Castle | Private | Research university | 19,295 | 1968[21] |
Defunct institutions
| Institution | Location(s) | Control | Founded | Closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandywine Junior College | Wilmington[22] | Private[22] | 1966[22] | 1991[22] | 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.[22] |
| St. Mary's College | Wilmington[9] | Private[9] | 1841[9] | 1866[9] | Catholic institution closed in 1866 following the American Civil War.[23] |
| Wesley College | Dover[10] | Private[10] | 1873[10] | 2021[10] | Acquired by Delaware State University in 2021.[24] |
| 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.[25] |
| Women's College of Delaware | Newark[26] | Public[26] | 1914[26] | 1945[26] | Merged into the University of Delaware in 1945.[26] |
See also
References
Explanatory notes
Citations
External links
Media related to Universities and colleges in Delaware at Wikimedia Commons- United States Department of Education listing of accredited institutions in Delaware
