Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for answers to our most popular questions.
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Online version
All freshmen who apply by December 1 are automatically considered for scholarship awards.
The University of Delaware awards more than $90 million annually in aid. Our commitment to making a University of Delaware education affordable is seen in our reasonable tuition for in-state and out-of-state students and in our variety of scholarships, financial aid programs, and financing plans. These include:
Freshman applicants who are outstanding academically may be eligible for academic scholarships awarded solely on the basis of merit without regard to financial need. All freshman applicants whose applications for Fall admission are complete by December 1, 2008 will be automatically reviewed for academic scholarships. A complete application includes the UD Application for Admission (or the Common Application and Supplement, which we also gladly accept), an official high school transcript and Secondary School Report, a letter of recommendation, and officially reported SAT-Reasoning or ACT scores with Writing. Unless requested, you do not need to send us additional information or a separate application.
The University of Delaware offers an unusually larger number of academic scholarships. For the Class of 2010, roughly one-quarter of the students who were offered freshman admission were also offered an academic scholarship that was based solely on academic merit without regard to financial need. Amounts ranged from $1,000 per year for four years all the way up to full scholarships (known as the Eugene DuPont Memorial Distinguished Scholar Awards, 10-12 full scholarships, including tuition, room & board, and books). Most scholarships awarded were in the range of $2,000 to $4,000 per year. The University is also a sponsor of National Merit and National Achievement Scholars.
There is no set of "numbers" (SAT/ACT scores, GPA, class rank) that will guarantee a scholarship or scholarship amount. Rather, we look at the whole of a student's record, especially the rigor of the course selection in high school and the trend in grades from freshman to senior year. For the Class of 2010, most scholarship winners were in the top 10% of their high school graduating class, with many in the top 5%; most had A or A- high school GPAs, and most had SATs of 1300 or higher.
But some students with lower scores in one or two of these categories were also offered scholarships when the Committee was impressed with the unusual rigor of their high school or the curriculum they pursued. Outstanding out-of-class accomplishments and leadership, strong endorsements in letters of recommendation, a background or heritage that would lend diversity to our campus, a parent who is an alumnus/a of the University, and exceptionally strong writing samples also play a part in our scholarship decisions; the strength and excellence of the high school record are always the most important considerations, however.
It is equally true that some students whose "numbers" looked good did not receive scholarship offers from the University: the reasons often had to do with such factors as a weak senior year course selection or a downward trend in grades or a weak essay. The quality of our applicant pool also affects your chances of a scholarship. For the past few years, the quality of our entering class as measured by SAT scores and high school GPAs has increased significantly. This has made our scholarships increasingly competitive. For information about the academic qualifications and background of our current freshman class, see our freshman class profile.
Scholarship-quality athletes are generally identified by our coaches, who recruit on the basis of athletic skill. Athletic scholarships are available in the following varsity sports:
If you are interested in contacting a coach, you should write to the Athletics Department, University of Delaware, Newark DE 19716, call (302) 831-4006, or complete the Prospective Student Athlete Questionnaire.
You may inquire about music scholarships by calling the Music department at (302) 831-8426 and arranging an appointment for an audition. Scholarship audition dates for 2008-09 are December 6, January 10 and 24, and February 7. In the event of snow, February 14 is the scheduled make-up day. Music department scholarships are generally reserved for music majors and minors (although exceptions may be made for students playing certain instruments). In addition, the Music Merit Program provides private study opportunities for other qualified students who wish to study applied music.
All applicants to the Art Interests major (Fine Arts, BFA or BA, and Visual Communications, BFA) will be considered for a Calloway Scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based upon the artistic merit of the applicant's portfolio, in addition to the applicant's financial need. Portfolios should be submitted online by November 1 for Spring semester consideration, February 1 for Fall Freshman consideration, and May 1 for Fall Transfer consideration. Slide portfolios are not accepted. Click here for complete instructions on submitting the portfolio.
Additional scholarships exist at the University of Delaware for the following applicants:
Universities typically distinguish between aid based on demonstrated financial need and aid based solely on academic ability or special talents without regard to financial need. Aid based on financial need, as demonstrated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that the student files, is "need-based aid."
To apply for need-based aid, file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2009. Use the institutional code for the University of Delaware: 001431. We strongly recommend filing the FAFSA by February 1, especially for students who want an early notification of the financial aid award. A new FAFSA must be filed for each subsequent year.
Please note that Federal and University financial assistance is available only to U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents.
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