Wilmington, Delaware Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Wilmington, Delaware shows: median public in-state tuition $13,920 (+152.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $59,892 (+10.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 86.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $18,900 (+40.7% vs U.S.) 852 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 4 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 852 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $13,920 (+152.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $59,892 (+10.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 86.9% (-1.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,074 (+91.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $18,900 (+40.7% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $13,000
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 57.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 71.8%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Wilmington, Delaware—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Delaware and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Wilmington vs Delaware & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, Delaware | $13,920 | $19,074 | $18,900 | 57.4% | 852 |
| Delaware (state median) | $5,445 | $13,910 | $10,500 | 43.9% | 44,606 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Wilmington, Delaware vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, Delaware | $59,892 | 86.9% | 71.8% | 5.6% | — | 62.8% | 0.32 |
| Delaware (state median) | $56,868 | 84.1% | 70.9% | 6.3% | — | 60.2% | 0.35 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Delaware (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, Delaware | $13,920 | $19,074 | $18,900 | 57.4% | 852 | $59,892 | 86.9% |
| Newark | $16,810 | $16,753 | $9,833 | 80.5% | 19,759 | $72,950 | 81.3% |
| Newark | $16,810 | $16,753 | $9,833 | 80.5% | 19,759 | $72,950 | 81.3% |
| Newark | $16,810 | $16,753 | $9,833 | 80.5% | 19,759 | $72,950 | 81.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 57.4%, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 86.9%, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 most selective colleges in Wilmington, Delaware (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 84.5%, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $57,534, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $70,765, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,097, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,889, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $59,892, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $166,476, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Wilmington, Delaware (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $15,554, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
Top 10 colleges in Wilmington, Delaware by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 71.8%, Goldey-Beacom College
Goldey-Beacom College
In-state tuition: Wilmington, Delaware vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Wilmington, Delaware median in-state tuition is $13,920, +152.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Wilmington, Delaware vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Wilmington, Delaware is $18,900 (+40.7% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Wilmington, Delaware vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Wilmington, Delaware center around $59,892 (+10.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Wilmington, Delaware vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.9% at the median Wilmington, Delaware campus (-1.1 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Wilmington, Delaware median public in-state tuition is $13,920, about +152.5% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +88.6%.
Median graduate debt is $18,900 (+40.7% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Wilmington, Delaware are $59,892, about +10.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 86.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-1.1 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 71.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 62.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Goldey-Beacom College (86.9%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Wilmington, Delaware is 57.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Wilmington?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 4 campuses in Wilmington, Delaware with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Wilmington?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Wilmington is $13,920 and median net price is $19,074. For Delaware overall, medians are $5,445 and $13,910; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Wilmington?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Wilmington is $59,892 vs $56,868 for Delaware and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Wilmington colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Wilmington is $18,900 vs $10,500 for Delaware and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Wilmington?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Goldey-Beacom College (graduation) and Goldey-Beacom College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Wilmington?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 4 College Scorecard campuses in Wilmington, Delaware, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Delaware college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON