The University of Delaware received a record number of applications from prospective freshmen: 27,479 students applied for the 2017-18 academic year. This is a 5 percent increase over applications for last fall and marks the first time the University has exceeded 27,000 applications. The applicants represent 48 states and 101 countries.

The University also received the highest ever number of applications from Delaware students, 3,886, up 4 percent from last fall and 25 percent from just three years ago. This includes 3,610 Delawareans who have applied to a bachelor's degree program on the University’s main campus and 276 who applied for the Associate in Arts Program offered at UD’s satellite campuses.

“We are committed to providing the residents of our state access to a first-class education at UD, and we’re thrilled with the opportunity to serve more Delawareans than ever before,” said Doug Zander, executive director of admissions.

As the flagship of higher education for the state of Delaware, UD maintains a commitment to Delawareans, putting in-state students first in outreach, admission and financial accessibility.  

This year’s UD applicant pool is also more diverse than ever, with 1,141 applications from Delaware underrepresented racial/ethnic groups — nearly a third of all in-state applicants. This number is up 8 percent from last fall, and 44 percent from 2014. Applications from non-resident students in these groups totaled 3,905, up 11 percent from last fall and 20 percent from 2014.

Zander attributes the rise in in-state applications to new initiatives in place to improve access and encourage students to apply. An admissions pilot program allows Delaware residents attending a high school in the state the option of whether or not to submit their SAT/ACT test scores with their UD application, removing a potential barrier that students — particularly historically underrepresented groups — may face.

Moreover, Zander believes stronger partnerships with the Delaware Department of Education and high schools and community-based organizations in the state are playing a large part in the increase. These collaborations are helping to introduce students to UD and prepare them for success in college.

One community-based organization that has developed deep ties with UD is TeenSHARP.  The Wilmington-based group helps underserved Delaware high school students gain entrance to and attend top colleges. TeenSHARP’s students spend every Saturday throughout the school year on UD’s Newark campus working with current UD undergraduates. 

“We see students wanting to apply to schools they personally know and have experienced,” Tatiana Poladko, TeenSHARP’s executive director, said. “It’s very hard for us to get students to apply to schools they have never visited.”

Last fall, UD, TeenSHARP and other partners held an inaugural conference for New Castle County high school seniors on UD’s campus; 130 underrepresented students attended.  The event included application tips, advice from admissions counselors and insights into how financial aid works.

“Opening access to the University and University resources, be it working with students, attending classes, or visiting for a campus tour, makes a great difference,” Poladko said.

UD student outcomes, expanded teams of admissions counselors and alumni volunteers around the U.S. and the globe have likely helped boost overall applications, according to Zander.

The University has a goal of increasing its 2017-18 incoming class of freshmen to 4,250 first-year students, from about 3,900 over the past several years.

Chris Lucier, vice president of enrollment management, said, “We are so proud of our students, who are graduating with extraordinary outcomes. It is their success and engagement in and out of the classroom that demonstrates the top education UD provides and helps us recruit the next generation of leaders.”