Delaware's largest university, a privately governed land-grant research institution with 24,000+ students and R1 research status.
The University of Delaware offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate education across ten colleges and schools, with 163 bachelor's programs, 136 master's programs, and 64 doctoral programs. The university is classified as R1: Doctoral Universities with very high research activity, spending $186 million on research and development in 2018 and ranking 119th nationally. UD provides study abroad opportunities and online degree programs, including highly ranked online MBA (#26) and online Master's in Education (#25) programs.
The main Newark campus spans 1,996 acres divided into Main, Laird, and South campuses, featuring Georgian-designed historic buildings around the Green, modern research facilities, and the 272-acre STAR Campus (built on a former Chrysler plant). The university operates satellite campuses in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes, and Georgetown. Student life includes 21 NCAA Division I sports teams (transitioning to Conference USA for 2025–26), fraternities and sororities, student media including The Review newspaper, and music and theater programs housed in the Louise and David Roselle Center for the Arts (opened 2006).
UD offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional continuing studies pathways. For the 2022–23 academic year, undergraduate tuition was $14,822 per semester for Delaware residents and $36,082 for non-residents. Total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board) was $32,444 for Delawareans and $54,964 for non-residents. The university emphasizes smaller classroom sizes, hands-on learning, and faculty collaboration.
UD operates the STAR Campus, home to the College of Health Sciences, vehicle-to-grid technology research, and partnerships with major companies including Chemours (Discovery Hub), Bloom Energy, and the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals. The university also houses 80+ research centers and the Horn Entrepreneurship program, supporting innovation and technology transfer.