Best Small Colleges in Delaware 2025

Badge for BEST IN DELAWARE SMALL COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski
Updated:

Small colleges in Delaware are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

Key Takeaways

  • The best small colleges in Delaware emphasize career readiness with specialized programs in business and technology, preparing students for roles in the corporate world through practical learning experiences and small class sizes that allow for individual attention.
  • Many of the best small colleges in Delaware offer a wide range of programs with flexible schedules, catering to traditional students and working professionals alike. This flexibility, combined with a focus on experiential learning, provides students with the skills needed to succeed in their chosen fields.
  • Many of the best small colleges in Delaware create a close-knit campus environment, where students benefit from personalized attention from faculty and staff. This supportive atmosphere is ideal for those looking for a nurturing environment to explore academic and personal growth.

Best Small Colleges in Delaware in 2025

  1. Delaware State University
  2. Wesley College

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

There are no changes to our ranking of the best small colleges in Delaware for 2025. This was a result of all the schools in the ranking making similar improvements to their curriculum, internship opportunities, and other program features.

The following list of the best small colleges and universities in Delaware is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 2 small colleges in Delaware. The list below of the best small colleges in Delaware. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.

Best Small Colleges in Delaware

  1. #1

    Delaware State University

    Dover , DE
    #12 Best HBCU Online Master's Programs #2 Best Grad Schools in Delaware 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Delaware 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in Delaware 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    55%

    Graduation

    45%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    945/22

    Career Outlook for degree at Delaware State University

    Cost of Degree: $10,314
    Expenses: $19,922
    Starting Salary: $38,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Delaware State University known for?

    Delaware State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Delaware State University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Human Resource Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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Delaware’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

Anthropology Biology Business Chemistry Commun­ications Computer Science Criminal Justice Earth Sciences Economics Education Engineering History Law Literature Mathematics Medical Nursing Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Work Sociology
2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

  1. Delaware State University
  2. Wesley College

Many states have great small colleges. If you’re interested in looking into what other states have to offer, check out the best small colleges in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

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