


The University of Delaware is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from the specialized accreditation that may apply to an individual degree program.
That distinction matters most in fields with licensing or professional-entry rules. UD programs in areas such as engineering, business, nursing, and education may be subject to different specialized review or state approval requirements. Applicants should check the exact program and credential, particularly if they intend to seek a license in another state. Institutional accreditation is also relevant to federal student-aid eligibility and may matter when another college reviews transfer credit, but it does not guarantee that a specific course will transfer or satisfy a licensing requirement.
First-year applicants to the University of Delaware submit an undergraduate application and academic records showing completion of secondary school or an accepted equivalent. UD reviews school performance and preparation rather than admitting everyone who meets a single published threshold.
The application process calls for a secondary-school transcript and considers GPA and college-preparatory coursework. Recommendations are part of the reported admissions requirements; applicants should follow the current application's instructions for the number and type requested. UD has considered SAT and ACT scores without requiring them in its reported admissions data, so applicants should check the policy for their entry term before deciding whether to send scores. Among enrolled first-time students in that reporting cycle, about 19% submitted SAT scores, which means the reported score distribution describes only a subset of the class.
Applicants whose education has not been conducted in English may need to document English proficiency through an accepted test or another approved route. Some majors have additional prerequisites or review procedures. Early and regular application rounds have different deadlines, and transfer and graduate applicants follow separate processes. The current admissions instructions for the intended term should govern decisions about essays, testing, deadlines, and any program-specific materials.
The reported standard undergraduate application fee for the University of Delaware is $75. It is an application charge, not an enrollment deposit or a payment toward tuition.
Applicants with financial need may be able to request an application-fee waiver through the application process or an applicable admissions waiver procedure. Because waiver questions and supporting requirements can vary by application route, an applicant who needs one should resolve the request before paying and submitting the application. Graduate and other specialized applications may use different fees; those applicants should use the charge displayed for their particular program rather than assuming the undergraduate amount applies.
University of Delaware students have access to Army and Air Force ROTC units on campus. Navy ROTC participation is reported through a cooperating host institution rather than a UD-based Navy unit.
ROTC combines college coursework and military training with a potential path to an officer's commission. Participation in a class is not the same as receiving an ROTC scholarship, and scholarship recipients or students who contract with a branch may incur service obligations. Students considering a branch should confirm cross-enrollment logistics, physical and academic eligibility, scholarship terms, and the location of required activities with the relevant ROTC unit before building a course schedule.
The University of Delaware admits transfer applicants for fall and spring entry and generally considers college credits earned at accredited institutions. Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of particular courses toward a UD degree are separate decisions.
Transfer applicants should expect to submit official transcripts from every college attended; high-school records may also be relevant, particularly for applicants with less college coursework or for specific programs. Academic preparation and available space can affect admission to a chosen major. UD maintains transfer-credit resources that can help applicants compare previous courses with UD offerings, but a preliminary equivalency is not a final degree audit.
UD reports accepting certain CLEP examinations and credit evaluated under American Council on Education recommendations, subject to its credit policies. Students should also check how many credits their major requires at UD and whether a course can satisfy a major requirement rather than only an elective. An official evaluation after admission is the decisive way to see how accepted credits apply to the intended degree.
The University of Delaware offers study-abroad opportunities that include academic-term programs and shorter programs, including faculty-led options. Its international education history is notable: UD launched a study-abroad program in 1923, an early example of organized U.S. undergraduate study overseas.
Available destinations and course offerings change by term. A student may need departmental approval to ensure overseas courses count toward a major, minor, or general-education requirement. Program costs also vary: tuition arrangements, housing, travel, insurance, and personal spending may not match a semester in Newark. Study-abroad advising can help students compare UD-operated opportunities with approved partner arrangements and determine how their financial aid or scholarships would apply before committing.
16% of admitted students enrolled (4,424 of 28,238)
Regular application deadline
January 15Application fee
$75Early Decision
NoEarly Action
Yes, deadline November 1Median composite SAT score
1248Median composite ACT score
29Percent of students submitting ACT scores
2.8%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
19.1%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
RequiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Considered but not requiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedPreferential admissions consideration text
state residentsOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, SpringData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.