Head to head
University of Delaware vs Wilmington University
University of Delaware (Newark, DE) and Wilmington University (New Castle, DE) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | University of Delaware | Wilmington University |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Newark, DE | New Castle, DE |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Public | Private |
| Campus setting | Suburban | Suburban |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $16,810 | $12,630 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $41,400 | $12,630 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $17,799 | $15,644 |
| Acceptance rate | 65% | 100% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1200–1360 | Not reported |
| Total enrollment | 23,261 | 13,820 |
| Graduation rate | 81% | 20% |
| First-year retention | 92% | 61% |
What the numbers show
- Wilmington University has the lower published in-state tuition ($12,630 vs $16,810 at University of Delaware).
- Wilmington University has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($12,630 vs $41,400 at University of Delaware).
- Wilmington University has the lower average net price after aid ($15,644 vs $17,799 at University of Delaware).
- University of Delaware has the higher graduation rate (81% vs 20% at Wilmington University).
- University of Delaware has the lower acceptance rate (65% vs 100% at Wilmington University).
- University of Delaware has the larger student body (23,261 students vs 13,820 students at Wilmington University).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, University of Delaware or Wilmington University?
- Wilmington University has the lower published in-state tuition: $12,630 versus $16,810. After grants and scholarships, average net price is $17,799 at University of Delaware and $15,644 at Wilmington University — net price is the better basis for a cost comparison.
- Is University of Delaware or Wilmington University harder to get into?
- University of Delaware has the lower acceptance rate — 65% versus 100%. A lower acceptance rate means more applicants per seat; it is not by itself a measure of academic quality or of your own chances.
- Which has the better graduation rate, University of Delaware or Wilmington University?
- University of Delaware reports the higher graduation rate: 81% versus 20%. Graduation rates reflect the students a college enrolls as well as the support it provides, so read them alongside admissions selectivity.
Related comparisons
Keep going on CampusPin
Narrow this list with the full filter set, or put any two colleges side by side.
Data sources & methodology
Figures for University of Delaware and Wilmington University come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. University of Delaware vs Wilmington University. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/university-of-delaware-vs-wilmington-university