<h2 id="section---IsTheUniversityOfDelawareTheRightSchoolForYou">Is the University of Delaware the Right School for You?</h2> <p>Founded in 1743, the University of Delaware is a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a school with a high amount of research activity. This university is a 4-year public school and offers more than 200 degree programs. Read about rankings, admissions, and financial aid and weigh the pros and cons of attending the University of Delaware. </p> <h4 id="section---Pros">Pros</h4> <ul><li>Graduation rate is 64%, which is 24 percentage points higher than the national average </li><li>Large number of academic programs </li><li>AP and dual credit accepted </li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons">Cons</h4> <ul><li>Total cost for in-state students living on-campus is $6,880 higher than the national average and $10,919 more for out-of-state students </li><li>Student debt for 2011 graduates was $4,342 higher than the national average </li><li>Endowment decreased by 11.9% percent between 2010 and 2011 </li></ul><h3 id="section---RankingsAndSchoolAnalysis">Rankings and School Analysis</h3> <p>The University of Delaware's flagship campus is located in Newark and additional campuses are located throughout the state. With hundreds of degree programs, including 147 bachelor's degree programs and 119 graduate programs, there are plenty of options for you. According to <i>U.S. News and World Report</i>, the five most popular majors at the University of Delaware are business, social sciences, education, engineering, and health professions. Alumni of this school include three signers of the Declaration of Independence, as well as Jill and Joe Biden. Furthermore, the faculty includes a Nobel Laureate, Guggenheim and Fulbright fellows, and members of the National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Engineering. </p> <p>The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) indicates that the 4-year graduation rate for students attending from 2005-2009 was 24 percentage points higher than the national average for four-year institutions. The 93% retention rate for full-time first-time students in 2010 shows that most students were satisfied with their choice. </p> <p>In 2013, the Princeton Review added the University of Delaware to its list of best value colleges. Despite this title, the NCES indicates that total cost of attendance will cost you more than $6,000 above the national average for in-state students and more than $10,000 for out-of-state students. One way you may be able to cut costs is to pursue alternative credits. If this is something you might do, it is good to know that the University of Delaware accepts dual and AP credit. </p> <p>If you are hoping to apply for aid to help cover the above-average cost of school, you should know that the College Board reports that the average indebtedness of students who graduated in 2011 was more than $4,000 higher than the national average of $26,660. Another financial point of interest to consider is a school's endowment. During the 2008-2009 school year, the University of Delaware ranked 55 out of 120 schools with the largest endowment, but NCES also reports an 11.9% decrease in this endowment between the years of 2010 and 2011. This decrease may represent a drop-off in alumni support, or investment returns, but either way, it means that the school has less money. </p> <h2 id="section---GettingInAndFinancialAidAtTheUniversityOfDelaware">Getting in and Financial Aid at the University of Delaware</h2> <p>The 59% acceptance rate for prospects to the University of Delaware in 2011 was slightly lower than the national average, but if you are an in-state student, you will be glad to know that applicants from Delaware enjoy priority consideration as well as a 90% acceptance rate, according to <i>US News and World Report</i>. If you do choose to apply, you will have to submit the Common Application, including the University of Delaware supplement, accompanied by a $75 fee, your transcripts, essay, standardized test scores, and a teacher's recommendation. Applicants to the apparel design program, the music program, and the occupational therapy program have some special requirements, so you should always check with the school to be sure that your application is complete. </p> <p>The Princeton Review listed this school in the top-5 among schools with not-so-great financial aid in 2012, but <i>US News and World Report</i> shows that nearly half of all students who applied for aid had their full need met in 2011. The average financial aid package for freshman students who received aid in the same year was $13,978. For this aid, 41% came from scholarships and grants and 59% came from loans and work-study, according to the College Board. The University of Delaware offers both athletic and ROTC scholarships, and all financial aid applicants are strongly urged to have the FAFSA in by the priority deadline of February 15. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Admissions and Financial Aid</th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td> January 15*</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Financial Aid Priority Application Deadline (2013)</i></td><td> February 15*</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Application Fee (2013)</i></td><td> $75****</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Acceptance Rate (2012-2013)</i></td><td>59%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Tuition and Fees (2012-2013)</i></td><td> $11,682 in-state, $28,772 out-of-state**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Average Freshman Financial Aid Package (2011-2012)</i></td><td> $13,978***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Percent of Students With All Need Met (2011)</i></td><td>45.2%****</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i></td><td> 2.8%**</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---StudentLifeAtTheUniversityOfDelaware">Student Life at the University of Delaware</h2> <p>First-year students at the University of Delaware are required to live on-campus, but overall, less than half of the more than 17,000 undergraduates continue to do so. If you are interested in on-campus housing, it is good to know that the types of accommodations include: coed, women's only, apartment-style, wellness, and theme housing. There are also many notable facilities on-campus that you may find helpful as you pursue your educational goals. There is a human performance laboratory, preschool lab, nutrition clinic, greenhouse, apparel design laboratory, 400-acre agricultural research complex, figure skating center, and simulated hospital rooms for students pursuing degrees in the health professions. Off-campus, this school has a 146-foot research vessel, which helps scientists conduct oceanic research in the region. </p> <p>An uncommon aspect of student life at the University of Delaware is that the school operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar. Outside of class, there are more than 300 student organizations you can be involved with. If you are into sports, this school features NCAA division I athletics. Also, almost 20% of students are involved in Greek life since there are 20 sororities and 25 fraternities on-campus. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life</th><th /></tr> <tr><td><i>Campus Setting</i></td><td> Large suburb**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Student Population (2013)</i></td><td> 17,872 undergraduates**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2011)</i></td><td> 43% male, 57% female**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>% of Full-Time Students (2011)</i></td><td> 91%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>% of In-State Students (2011)</i></td><td> 41%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>% of International Students (2011)</i></td><td> 1%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Retention Rate (2011)</i></td><td>93%**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Campus Housing Available</i></td><td> Yes**</td></tr> <tr><td><i>% of Students Living On-Campus (2011)</i></td><td> 44%***</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Extracurricular Activities</i></td><td> More than 300 student organizations*</td></tr> <tr><td><i>Noteworthy</i></td><td> Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an institution with high research activity**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *UD, **NCES, ***College Board, ****US News and World Report.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---ContactInformation">Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> 210 South College Avenue, Newark, DE, 19716 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (302) 831-8123</li></ul>