The cost of college in Delaware — and what it pays back
Across the 6 Delaware institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $15,197/yr, $1,705 below the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $51,576 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 4 of the 6 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How Delaware's 6 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Delaware | $17,799 | $72,950 | 2.9 yrs |
| Goldey-Beacom College | $15,554 | $59,892 | 5.4 yrs |
| Wilmington University | $15,644 | $53,844 | 11.4 yrs |
| Delaware State University | $13,910 | $49,307 | 58.8 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | $11,578 | $41,448 | no payback |
| Delaware State University | $13,910 | $49,307 | 58.8 yrs |
| Dawn Career Institute LLC | $14,839 | $30,429 | no payback |
| Goldey-Beacom College | $15,554 | $59,892 | 5.4 yrs |
| Wilmington University | $15,644 | $53,844 | 11.4 yrs |
How many Delaware colleges actually pay for themselves?
4 of 6 — 67% of the Delaware institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do Delaware graduates out-earn the national median?
Delaware graduates report a median $51,576 ten years after entry, $8,027 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.