How Colleges in Delaware Are Organised Across Three Counties

Delaware is one of the smallest states in the country, yet it offers a full range of higher education. Our database lists 35 colleges, universities, nursing schools and career academies across New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. Few places in the state are more than an hour's drive from a campus, so comparing options in person is realistic even if you work full time.

Responsibility for these schools is divided. Public institutions such as the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical Community College are run by their own boards of trustees and receive state funding. Private and out-of-state institutions that grant degrees in Delaware must be approved through the Delaware Higher Education Office, which sits within the Delaware Department of Education. Trade programs, including cosmetology, barbering and massage, are connected to licensing boards under the Division of Professional Regulation. Nursing schools also answer to the Delaware Board of Nursing.

Accreditation matters more than any brochure. Most degree-granting colleges in this region are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Accreditation affects whether your credits transfer and whether you can use federal student aid. Ask any school to name its accreditor before you pay a deposit.

Delaware's size also shapes how people study. Many students live in one county and attend class in another, and commuting between Newark, Dover and Georgetown is routine. Several institutions respond by running branch sites, so one school may have an address in each of the three counties.

Public Choices: University of Delaware, Delaware State and Delaware Tech

The University of Delaware is the state's flagship. Its main campus is in Newark, and our listing sits at 162 The Green (302-831-2792). It is both a land-grant and a sea-grant university, and it is governed as a state-assisted institution with a private charter. That sea-grant role is visible in Lewes, where the Hugh R. Sharp Campus at 700 Pilottown Road (302-831-2841) supports marine and environmental programs. UD also offers an Associate in Arts program in Dover, listed at 700 Campus Drive (302-857-1214), for students who plan to finish a bachelor's degree later.

Delaware State University, at 1200 North DuPont Highway in Dover (302-857-6060), is a historically Black university and land-grant institution founded in 1891. It anchors higher education in Kent County. Our listings also include Wesley College on North State Street in Dover. Wesley closed as an independent college in 2021, and Delaware State University has since taken over its campus. If you find Wesley in older records, contact DSU for current information rather than relying on the old number.

Delaware Technical Community College works as one statewide college with campuses in each county. Our listings include the Charles L. Terry Campus at 100 Campus Drive in Dover (302-857-1000), the central office at 1832 North DuPont Highway in Dover (302-739-3737), and the Owens Campus near Georgetown (302-856-5400). The college also operates campuses in Wilmington and Stanton in New Castle County. Because it is a single institution, credits move easily between its campuses.

Many Delaware students start at Delaware Tech and then transfer to UD or DSU. This is often the least expensive route to a bachelor's degree. Ask an advisor for a written transfer plan before you choose your first semester of classes.

Private Universities, Nursing Schools and Career Academies in Delaware

Wilmington University is the private institution with the widest local footprint, and it mainly serves working adults. Our listings show centers at 47 Reads Way in New Castle (302-655-5400), 320 North DuPont Highway in Wilmington Manor (877-967-5464), 651 North Broad Street in Middletown (302-378-0360), and 3282 North DuPont Highway in Dover (302-734-2594). Further south, it has sites at 261 Chad Street for Dover Air Force Base (302-674-8726), on Seashore Highway in Georgetown (302-856-5780), and at 41 Rehoboth Avenue in Dewey Beach (302-227-6295). Evening, weekend and online classes are common.

Other private options include Widener University's Delaware campus at 4601 Concord Pike in Wilmington (302-477-2100), best known for its law school. Strayer University has a Newark site at 240 Continental Drive (302-292-6100), and Harris School of Business operates at 97 Commerce Way in Dover (302-674-8060). Both focus on adult and career-oriented study.

Nursing education in Sussex County is centered on Lewes. The Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing at Beebe Medical Center and the Beebe School of Nursing share 424 Savannah Road and the number 302-645-3251. They appear as two records in our data but point to the same hospital-based program.

Four hands-on career schools complete the picture. Paul Mitchell The School-Delaware (1420 Pulaski Highway, Newark) and Hair Academy School of Barbering & Beauty (1013 South College Avenue, Newark) train hair and beauty professionals. Academy of Massage and Bodywork is in Bear, and Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology is in Dagsboro. Graduates of these programs must still pass state licensing steps, so ask each school for its recent exam pass rates and licensing assistance.

Metro Newark and Wilmington Versus Dover and Sussex County

Where you live changes what is available and how you get there.

New Castle County: the densest choice

New Castle County holds 19 of our 35 listings, including the University of Delaware in Newark, Widener's Wilmington site and several Wilmington University centers. Interstate 95 and US 13 connect most campuses, and Newark has Amtrak and SEPTA regional rail service. Expect busy parking near campus and plenty of evening classes. Browse the full set on our New Castle County page.

Kent County: public universities and a military link

Dover, the state capital, has nine listings, matching Wilmington for the most of any city. It combines Delaware State University, Delaware Tech's Terry Campus and two Wilmington University sites, one of which serves Dover Air Force Base. Service members and their families often prefer the base location for convenience. See the Kent County page for every Dover listing.

Sussex County: fewer sites, longer drives

Sussex County is the largest county by area and has seven listings across Georgetown, Lewes, Dagsboro and Dewey Beach. Route 1 and Route 113 traffic grows heavily in summer beach season, so allow extra time for evening classes. Delaware Tech's Owens Campus and Wilmington University's Georgetown center serve the inland south. Beebe's nursing school and UD's marine campus sit near Lewes. Details are on the Sussex County page.

Paying for College in Delaware and Steps to Take Before You Apply

Delaware runs state scholarship programs through the Delaware Higher Education Office. The SEED scholarship can cover tuition at Delaware Tech for eligible Delaware high school graduates, and it also supports UD's Associate in Arts program. The Inspire scholarship helps eligible students at UD and Delaware State. GPA rules, enrollment deadlines and residency requirements can change, so confirm them with the Higher Education Office before you plan around the money.

Public colleges and universities in Delaware offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The Delaware state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 11 cities across Delaware. They are spread across 3 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Wilmington, Dover, Newark, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in Delaware should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in Delaware applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many Delaware institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across Delaware to find the nearest location.

Finding the Right Campus Near You in Delaware

Start with the county closest to home, then widen your search. Delaware's distances are short, and a campus one county over may offer the program, schedule or price you need. The New Castle County page covers Newark, Wilmington, Bear and Middletown. The Kent County page covers Dover, and the Sussex County page covers Georgetown, Lewes, Dagsboro and Dewey Beach.

Some entries in a directory like this are duplicates or older records. Delaware Tech's Terry Campus appears twice, and the Beebe nursing school appears under two names. Wesley College is listed even though Delaware State University now holds its campus. Before you drive anywhere, call the number shown and confirm the address, the office hours and which building handles admissions.

Bring the basics to a first visit. These include a photo ID, your high school or prior college transcripts, and your Social Security number if you plan to apply for aid. Ask for a named admissions or financial aid contact so your questions do not get lost between offices.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Delaware

For most residents, Delaware Technical Community College is the lowest-cost starting point. It has campuses in each county, including the Terry Campus in Dover and the Owens Campus near Georgetown. The SEED scholarship can cover tuition for eligible Delaware high school graduates, though it has academic and enrollment conditions. Many students finish an associate degree there and transfer to the University of Delaware or Delaware State University. Ask the Higher Education Office or a Delaware Tech advisor for the current rules before you apply, since deadlines and eligibility details can change from year to year.

Check two things. First, ask for the school's accreditor by name. Most degree-granting colleges in the region are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and you can confirm that on the commission's own directory. Second, confirm state approval. The Delaware Higher Education Office, part of the Delaware Department of Education, handles approval for degree-granting institutions that operate in the state. For trade programs, ask which licensing board recognizes the training. A school that cannot answer either question clearly is a warning sign.

Wilmington University lists a site at 261 Chad Street in Dover that serves the base, with the number 302-674-8726. It is built around the schedules of service members, their families and base employees. Call first to confirm who can enroll and which programs are offered there. Military students should also visit the base education office to ask about tuition assistance and other benefits. Delaware State University and Delaware Tech's Terry Campus are also in Dover, so you have several nearby options if you want a wider choice of majors.

In Sussex County, the Beebe School of Nursing, also listed as the Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing, operates at 424 Savannah Road in Lewes (302-645-3251). It is connected to Beebe Medical Center, so clinical training takes place in a working hospital. Nursing programs are also offered by larger institutions, including the University of Delaware, Delaware Tech and Wilmington University. Whichever route you choose, nursing graduates are licensed through the Delaware Board of Nursing. Ask each program about its licensing exam results and where students complete clinical hours.

You complete training at a school, then apply for a license through the Division of Professional Regulation. Our listings include Paul Mitchell The School-Delaware and Hair Academy School of Barbering & Beauty in Newark, Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology in Dagsboro, and Academy of Massage and Bodywork in Bear. Required training hours and exam steps are set by the relevant state board, so check the board's current requirements before you enroll. Ask the school how it supports graduates through the licensing process and what its recent pass rates have been.

Wesley College, at 120 North State Street in Dover, closed as an independent college in 2021, and Delaware State University took over its campus. Our database still carries the older listing, so treat its phone number with caution. If you are a former Wesley student who needs transcripts or records, contact Delaware State University at 302-857-6060 and ask the registrar's office where those records are now held. Current students and new applicants in Dover should look at Delaware State, Delaware Tech's Terry Campus and the local Wilmington University sites.