by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Delaware, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **3** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 3 colleges on more than 20 objective measures 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.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is University Of Delaware, our #1 college in Delaware. University Of Delaware is a public school based in Newark, DE. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,861.
A rank of #2 makes Wilmington University one of the top colleges in Delaware. Set in New Castle, DE, Wilmington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Wilmington University graduates 22% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,630. Median early-career earnings reach $57,142. Wilmington University students take on a median of $26,054 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Goldey Beacom College earned it the #3 place in Delaware. Goldey Beacom College is a private not-for-profit school based in Wilmington, DE. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,940. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,634 early in their careers. Goldey Beacom College students take on a median of $20,743 in debt.
Out of the 3 colleges in Delaware in this year's ranking, Delaware Technical Community College Terry landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Dover, DE. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,332, while out-of-state students pay about $5,763. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,322. Delaware Technical Community College Terry students take on a median of $11,154 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Delaware State University one of the top colleges in Delaware. Based in Dover, DE, Delaware State University is a public institution. Delaware State University graduates 39% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,670, with out-of-state students paying around $20,634. Delaware State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,572. Typical student debt is $26,333.
Strayer University Delaware landed the #6 spot in Delaware this year. Set in Wilmington, DE, Strayer University Delaware is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,920. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,506 early in their careers. Strayer University Delaware students take on a median of $47,631 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.