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Summary
University of Delaware is a public institution that was founded in 1743. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,120, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 2,012 acres. It utilizes a 4-1-4-based academic calendar. University of Delaware's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 75. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,192 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $27,462 (2011-12).
For students interested in attending the University of Delaware, it pays to live in the state. Delaware residents are given first priority when it comes to admissions, and more than 90 percent who apply will be accepted. Less than half (46 percent) of all out-of-state applicants are admitted. For all who receive admission, there are more than 280 student clubs and organizations on the school’s lush campus in downtown Newark. Nearly 20 percent of students are involved in the school’s large Greek system, which has 25 fraternities and nearly 20 sororities. The Fightin’ Blue Hens sports teams, named after a Delaware Revolutionary War battalion with the same nickname, compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association. The mascot is a costumed bird named YoUDee, and a group of live Blue Hen chickens reside on the school farm. Freshmen must live on campus, unless they commute from a parent’s local home. When students want to leave campus, Wilmington is 8 miles away. Philadelphia is a 45-mile drive and Baltimore is 55 miles away. The University of Delaware ran the nation’s first study abroad program in 1923, and, these days, 45 percent of undergraduates opt to spend time in another country.
The University of Delaware offers more than 150 graduate degree programs, including some through the highly ranked School of Education and College of Engineering. In addition to its main location in Newark, the university has campuses throughout Delaware and teaching facilities in Paris, London, and China. The school also has a sea-faring research facility, a 146-foot ship called Hugh R. Sharp. As a land, sea, and space grant institution, the University of Delaware receives federal funding for research in all three areas. Notable University of Delaware alumni include U.S. Vice President Joe Biden; Robert Gore, the inventor of Gore-Tex; and Chuck Lewis, founder of the Center for Public Integrity.
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The University of Delaware is a state-assisted institution of higher learning with a private charter. Our private characteristics--smaller classes, an endowment over $1 billion, breathtaking campus and students from every state in the nation and 100 countries--at an affordable price are some of the many qualities that make UD unique. Among our distinguished faculty are internationally known authors, scientists and artists, including Nobel Laureates, Guggenheim and Fulbright Fellows and members of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. With more than 125 majors and 100 minors in seven colleges, UD is focused on an enriched undergraduate education from start to finish, including the First Year Seminar. Led by faculty working closely with upper-level undergraduate peer mentors, these seminars emphasize class discussion and assist students as they adjust to college life. Prior to graduation, all students will also have discovered a greater depth of learning through one of UD's signature academic programs. The University Honors Program, one of the nation's oldest, attracts many of our best students with thoughtful advising, private music instruction, a writing fellows program, a living and learning community and Honors degrees. Our nationally acclaimed Undergraduate Research Program enables students to work with faculty as research assistants, conduct independent research and publish or present findings. The Medical Scholars Program allows a select number of academically competitive students to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from UD and an M.D. degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. The first Study Abroad in the world was founded at the University of Delaware in 1923 and now includes hundreds of courses across a spectrum of disciplines on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Each year, some 1,400 UD students study abroad, giving UD one of the highest university rates of student participation in the nation. In addition, Service Learning experiences, combined with academic studies, improve and strengthen the world in which we live, while simultaneously creating a greater sense of civic responsibility that students will take with them into the future. UD's commitment to our students is evident in our programming and facilities (including new residence halls that opened in 2005, 2006 and 2008, with more now under construction) and in the number of scholars we produce each year--Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and more, not to mention nationally ranked student-athletes. The future--with successes unique to each of our graduates--is something that UD takes seriously. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1743 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | 4-1-4 |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2011 Endowment | N/A |
Applying
When applying to University of Delaware, it's important to note the application deadline is December 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at University of Delaware is $75. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 58.2 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 58.2% |
| Application deadline | December 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of Delaware is 15:1, and the school has 36.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Delaware include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Education; Engineering; and Health Professions and Related Programs. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 91.8 percent.
Student Life
University of Delaware has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,120, with a gender distribution of 42.9 percent male students and 57.1 percent female students. At this school, 44.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 56.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Delaware is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at University of Delaware.
| Total enrollment | 20,737 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of Delaware offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Delaware also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of Delaware, 22 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Delaware.
| Students who have cars on campus | 22% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of Delaware, 47.8 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $7,385.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $11,192 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $27,462 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $10,196 (2011-12) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
