Cost of college in Delaware
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Delaware averages $12,427 a year, or $15,332 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $59,952 and owe about $20,301. The net price pays back in about 3.4 years.
How Delaware compares to the US
Delaware ranks #14 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #16 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #14 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Delaware | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $12,427 | $9,518 | +$2,909 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $29,533 | $23,652 | +$5,881 |
| Net price after aid | $15,332 | $13,788 | +$1,544 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $59,952 | $56,427 | +$3,525 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,301 | $17,856 | +$2,445 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Delaware pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Delaware costs about $61,328 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.4 years from the roughly $18,152-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #14 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Delaware list about $12,816 in tuition and net out to about $15,637 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Delaware?
At a public 4-year college in Delaware, in-state tuition and fees average about $12,427 a year and out-of-state runs about $29,533. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $15,332. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Delaware earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Delaware's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $59,952 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $20,301 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Delaware?
A public 4-year degree in Delaware costs about $61,328 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.4 years from the roughly $18,152-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.