Whether you want to earn your degree or simply take Delaware community college online courses, the state offers many opportunities for you to continue your education. By attending an in-state school online, you can take advantage of in-state tuition rates and networking connections while enjoying the flexibility of a distance education program. Once you graduate with a degree in teaching, chemical engineering, business, or another professional field, you will find a booming job market in Delaware’s high-performing economy.
Featured Online Schools
Higher Learning Initiatives in Delaware
University of Delaware Distance Learning
The University of Delaware (UD) online courses are a good option for those who aren’t interested in private online schools in Delaware. UD, Delaware’s largest university, offers more than 200 online courses and six 100% online degree programs in addition to its offline course offerings and degree programs. The university also gives Delaware high school students the opportunity to earn college credits by taking select online courses. In addition to providing online degrees and courses to students, UD facilitates many online certificate programs for professionals.
eLearning Delaware
Teachers in most districts in the U.S. must complete their yearly quota of professional development hours at seminars. K-12 teachers in Delaware, however, can take professional development courses online, at their convenience, through eLearning Delaware. The most innovative of eLearning Delaware’s offerings are the courses that teach educators how to create a digital classroom. After teachers complete these online courses, they can help learners in their classes use technology.
Thinkfinity Delaware
Delaware state officials have teamed up with Thinkfinity.org and Verizon Wireless to create an initiative called Thinkfinity Delaware. This initiative provides more than 55,000 different resources, lesson plans, training, and digital tools to help Delaware teachers develop truly cutting-edge, digital classrooms. All the tools and ideas teachers discover on Thinkfinity Delaware are aligned with national and state standards. Thinkfinity also provides Delaware teachers with a search engine they can use to search for class materials and activities that are related to the specific grades they teach.
Popular Degree Programs in Delaware
Manufacturing, mining, fishing, and agriculture form the four major components of Delaware’s economic foundation. The state produces chemicals, rubbers, plastics, gravel, soybeans, crabs, and milk. Delaware is also home to a robust aeronautics industry along with other technology-driven sectors. The state’s proximity to Washington, D.C., makes it ideal for federal contracts which provide more jobs for the area.
- Chemical Engineering: Chemical engineers use their knowledge of physics, biology, chemistry, and math to create and improve chemical manufacturing processes. Thanks to its long association with DuPont and the recent influx of aerospace and environmental protection companies, Delaware offers many opportunities for chemical engineering graduates.
- Business Management and Administration: Delaware’s most common major is business management and administration, which equips students with the skills in economics, finance, marketing, and management needed to thrive in entrepreneurial settings or the corporate world. Students who have an eye for helping a company enhance its bottom line while driving its mission forward should consider this major.
Paying for College in Delaware
The cost of higher education may make prospective students wonder if earning a degree is right for them. While online colleges in Delaware might charge more than schools in other states, Delaware also offers many private scholarships, public grants, and state-sponsored loan forgiveness programs. Delaware’s low unemployment rate and high median salary make it a good choice for graduates looking for their first jobs.
Tuition Prices
Students taking Delaware’s online college courses may find their tuition slightly higher than learners in other states. When considering the full cost of education, students should also factor in online fees, textbooks, and course supplies. High tuition can be offset by state grants and other aid programs that help Delaware residents pay for college.
Average Price for In-State Tuition and Fees by Institution Type, 2017-18
| Public Two Year | Public Four Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $4,850 | $12,700 |
| U.S. Average | $4,234 | $9,978 |
Source: College Board
Employment Outlook in Delaware
Current unemployment rates are low across the U.S., but those numbers vary by state. Delaware’s unemployment rate equals the national average, but its annual mean wage is slightly higher than the nations, giving it a positive economic outlook. Aeronautics industries, finance, healthcare, and environmental protection companies support the state’s robust economy. Students in Delaware can take advantage of high wages, low unemployment, and proximity to the nation’s capital.
| Delaware | 3.7% |
| United States | 3.8% |
Source: BLS
| Delaware | $52,200 |
| United States | $50,620 |
Source: BLS
Accreditation for Colleges in Delaware
In the U.S, accreditation is a private, voluntary process in which schools demonstrate that they meet or exceed certain minimum standards and are accountable to their improvement plans. By attending one of the accredited online colleges in Delaware, students can take advantage of enhanced financial aid options, earn a degree with more credibility, and qualify for more jobs than those who attend unaccredited schools. A degree from an accredited school also offers students the ability to apply to graduate programs and take qualifying exams in their fields.
Accreditation can be regional, national, or programmatic. Regional accreditation serves as the gold standard, and in Delaware, the regional accrediting agency is The Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Regional accrediting agencies provide their stamp of approval to an entire college or university. National accreditation organizations only accredit schools within their niche. The Association for Biblical Higher Education and the Distance Education and Training Council are examples of large national accrediting agencies. Programmatic accreditors only accredit specific programs such as education, law, business, or library science. Universities and colleges can hold more than one kind of accreditation, and online schools receive the same accreditation as their campus-based counterparts.
Scholarships for Delaware Online College Students
Scholarships, loan forgiveness programs, grants, and other forms of state, federal, and private aid can help students pay for their education at online colleges in Delaware. These forms of aid do not require repayment or work-study, provided the recipients fulfill all requirements of the scholarship or loan forgiveness program.
Who Can Apply: An applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 24 and have a parent who was a resident of Delaware and died in the armed services, the police force, or the Department of Transportation’s service under qualifying circumstances.
Amount: Tuition and required fees at a public college in Delaware or a private or out-of-state college if the public university does not offer the desired major
Who Can Apply: Applicants must have a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian who serves as an employee of a company located in Port Wilmington, who is also a member of the Port of Wilmington Maritime Society and has contributed at least $500 to the scholarship fund.
Amount: $2,500
Who Can Apply: High school seniors must rank in the upper 50% of their classes, hold a combined SAT score of 1,000 or higher, and enroll full time at Delaware State University to apply for this scholarship named after the state’s first African-American state senator.
Amount: Full tuition, room, books, board, and fees at Delaware State University
Who Can Apply: Delaware residents who have lived in a manufactured home for a minimum of one year prior to their application can compete for this scholarship. Applicants must also file the FAFSA.
Amount: Varies; up to $1,000
Who Can Apply: Residents of Sussex County, Delaware, who attended high school in their county and were eligible for free or reduced lunch can apply for this scholarship, provided they hold a 2.5 GPA or higher.
Amount: $500
Who Can Apply: High school seniors who are Delaware residents and who hold at least a 2.75 GPA and an 1140 on the SAT can receive this loan, provided they are majoring in education in a high-need field. The state will forgive the loan at a rate of one year of loaned money for each year of teaching in a qualifying school.
Amount: Up to the cost of tuition
Who Can Apply: Delaware residents or state employees with a 2.5 GPA or higher who are majoring in nursing can apply. Students receive a loan, which the state forgives in full at a rate of one year of the loan for each year the recipient serves in a state-owned hospital or clinic.
Amount: $5,000 per year
Who Can Apply: Delaware residents with a 3.0 GPA and an SAT score of 1010 who plan to major in teaching can receive a state-backed loan to cover their educational costs. After graduation, the state will forgive one year of the loan for every year the recipient teaches in a qualifying Delaware school.
Amount: Loan cannot exceed the cost of all direct educational expenses
Who Can Apply: Applicants must be legal residents of Delaware, high school seniors, and hold a 3.0 GPA or higher. They also need 1290 on the SAT or the ACT’s equivalent score and a plan to major in a humanities or social sciences with a preference for political science.
Amount: Full tuition, books, board, room, and required fees at the University of Delaware or Delaware State University
Who Can Apply: High school seniors who are legal residents of Delaware must hold an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or above and a score of 1290 on the SAT or the equivalent on the ACT plus enroll full time at the University of Delaware.
Amount: Full tuition, books, room, board, and required fees at the University of Delaware
Resources for Students in Delaware
- Financing Your Education: The Delaware Public Library created a guide to financing your education, which includes information on financial aid toolkits, upcoming events, a guide to filling out the FAFSA, a list of partner organizations, and a clickable list of books on financial aid for higher education available through the library.
- Delaware.gov: Delaware’s official website offers a full page of information on higher education and training in the state. Students can find out about Delaware’s state-sponsored higher education institutions, state financial aid programs, professional licensing, and lists of scholarships and grants. The site also provides information on the Delaware Fire School.
- Southern Regional Education Board: A coalition of 16 states, including Delaware, form the SREB, an organization dedicated to improving education through research, analysis, and publication. Postsecondary learners can use the SREB site to gather information about in-state tuition at out-of-state colleges, in-state tuition for health professional degrees, and a nationwide network of online courses and programs.
- Delaware Department of Education: The Delaware Department of Education is the state agency charged with managing public education from preschool through postsecondary learning. Its site offers information about graduate and undergraduate financial aid, regional partnerships, and loan forgiveness and reimbursement programs. Students can create an account to apply for scholarships and monitor their award status.
- Delaware Goes to College: A website created and managed by the Delaware Department of Education, this site helps the state’s high school students learn how to apply to and pay for college. On the site, students can access numerous resources and inspirational articles, including many in Spanish. High-achieving students can also take advantage of the summer-intensive Delaware Goes to College Academy.
Online Schools in Delaware
Delaware State University
Dover, DE
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE