by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Delaware ranks #1 of 5 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Delaware ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 5 colleges average a 54% six-year graduation rate and $65,518 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Delaware, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **5** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 5 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
University Of Delaware leads the 5 ranked colleges in Delaware, followed by Wilmington University (#2) and Delaware Technical Community College Terry (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Delaware this year in Delaware. Set in Newark, DE, University Of Delaware is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. University Of Delaware graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,155. Graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
Wilmington University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Delaware. Located in New Castle, DE, Wilmington University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 22% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,630. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,142 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,054.
Out of the 5 colleges in Delaware in this year's ranking, Delaware Technical Community College Terry landed the #3 spot. Set in Dover, DE, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,332, while out-of-state students pay about $5,763. Delaware Technical Community College Terry graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,322. The median student debt is $11,154.
You'll be in good company at Goldey Beacom College, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Wilmington, DE, Goldey Beacom College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,940. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,634. Goldey Beacom College students take on a median of $20,743 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Strayer University Delaware one of the top colleges in Delaware. Located in Wilmington, DE, Strayer University Delaware is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,920. Median early-career earnings reach $58,506. The median student debt is $47,631.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.