Balancing its mission to deliver high quality education while effectively managing rising costs, the University of Delaware has announced its tuition and fees for the 2018-19 academic year. The focus remains on providing maximum value and positive career outcomes, and the University continues to seek additional value-driven solutions for its students.

Undergraduate tuition and fees at UD for the 2018-19 academic year will increase by $520 for Delawareans (to $13,680) and by $1,160 for nonresidents (to $34,310).

This year there are no increases in the Student Health Service Fee or the Student Center Fee; the Student Comprehensive Fee is increasing by $140 to $738. Room and board increases for the coming year are 4.5 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

Total annual cost for most undergraduates living on campus (including tuition, mandatory fees, room and board) will be $26,542 for Delawareans (an increase of $1,050) and $47,172 for nonresidents (an increase of $1,690). Campus housing and dining options vary, and the standard housing and dining options, totaling $12,862, are used here.

A one-time New Student Orientation fee charged to incoming new students is increased from $145 to $230. This fee increase -- the first since  2015 with the addition of the online math placement process -- will support enhanced orientation programming for new students, specifically 1743 Welcome Days; transition programs for specific groups such as transfer and first generation students; and the online math placement process. 

UD announced earlier this year that it is instituting a differential charge for undergraduate students in three areas: the Lerner College of Business and Economics, the College of Engineering and the School of Nursing. This charge will help align resources with the cost of instruction for these areas, which is higher than in other UD programs. For 2018-19, the annual differential charge for full-time students in these areas will be $1,000. Part-time students will be assessed $500 per year. For students who were already enrolled in these programs as of the spring 2018 semester, the differential charge will be discounted over the next few years as it is being implemented. (For additional information on the differential charge, please see this FAQ.)

Full-time tuition and fees for students in the University’s Associate in Arts Program, located on the Wilmington, Dover and Georgetown campuses of Delaware Technical Community College, will increase by $63 (to $2,189) for Delaware residents and by $157 (to $5,232) for out-of-state students.

Graduate tuition rates vary by program and can found here. The base graduate tuition per-credit hour rate for 2018-19 will increase by 3.2 percent (up $57 to $1,827 per credit hour).

“Offering our students the best possible education at a reasonable cost is a top priority for us as a University,” Provost Robin W. Morgan said. “To that end, we continue to assist our students with the financial and scholarship support they need to complete their degrees, which is the first step toward their successful careers and the opportunity to make a positive difference for communities in Delaware and around the world.”

In the 2017-18 academic year, UD students received more than $121 million in grants and scholarships administered by the University, an increase of more than 60 percent since 2012-13. These University-funded scholarships and grants supported more than 4,600 students from the state of Delaware.

Student success

UD’s commitment to ensuring that students are making progress toward their academic goals is reflected in the Blue Hen Success Collaborative, which works to keep students on track to graduate. In its first year, the collaborative has resulted in an increased number of appointments with advisers, and a new system – the Coordinated Care Network – helps advisers proactively guide students to other non-urgent support services, such as tutoring, financial services, career counseling and veterans’ services.

Other student support programs include Blue Hen Success Grants, which provides grants and financial literacy resources for students, with the goal of boosting retention and graduation rates; and Experimental Loan Counseling, which helps students navigate their loan borrowing options and make more informed decisions about repayment. UD is one of 51 colleges and universities selected by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in this pilot program.

This spring, UD’s Board of Trustees approved a change removing the limit on the number of credit hours covered by full tuition each semester. Previously, students could take from 12 to 17 credits per semester for the same cost but had to pay extra for any additional credit hours. Under the new policy, called “Finish in Four,” students can take 18 or more credit hours a semester, if needed, without paying more.

“Supporting and guiding students to graduate in four years, with outstanding career options, is the best way to promote affordability and to manage student debt,” said Chris Lucier, vice president for enrollment management. “That’s why we are focusing and investing toward this end.” 

Academics and affordability

The University of Delaware has won recognition for combining academic distinction and affordable cost, ranking 12th in the nation among the best 50 schools for postgraduate job placement, according to the career website Zippia. Other recent accolades include the ranking at #33 among public schools in U.S. News’ best college rankings and inclusion in Kiplinger's 100 Best Values in Public Colleges and Princeton Review’s best colleges list, as well as in its 2017 list of “Colleges That Pay You Back.”

For details on approved undergraduate tuition rates, room and board and student fees, visit www.udel.edu/rates. Undergraduate students will be notified in the coming week when their official billing and financial aid for the 2018-19 academic year is made available. Graduate students will be notified of their updated information by the end of July and can view updated rates by program here. For additional information, visit www.udel.edu/sfs.