The fine state of Delaware is known for many great things. There are many spectacular beaches, it was one of the first original thirteen colonies of the United States, and it’s tax free! The state also has some pretty great and wealthy schools, and that’s what we’re talking about today. We present a list of the richest schools in Delaware. We’ll discuss the wealth of these schools, some of the fun facts that make them unique, and the notable alumni who once called them home.
University of Delaware
104 Hullihen Hall Newark, DE 19716
The most famous and wealthiest of the richest schools in Delaware is the University of Delaware, which has received an endowment of $1.4 billion. This is a major college in the state with close to 24,000 students in the undergrad and graduate programs. Students who hope to attend the university will pay $54,344 for classes and room and board as of the time of this writing. Of course, scholarships and financial aid can bring that cost down quite a bit. Many students get out after only paying closer to $18k per year.
Also referred to as AD, the University of Delaware is a privately governed and state-assisted land-grant research university. It is the largest college in Delaware, and students who attend have a lot to consider. The school offers three associate programs, 148 bachelor’s programs, 121 master’s programs, and 55 doctoral programs. This is a major school that takes its title of “research university” very seriously. In fact, it’s considered to be a school that is “very high” in research activity. The school spent $186 million on research and development back in 2018, and they continue that dedication to research until this day.
History of the School
Since Delaware is considered to be the first state, there’s a lot of rich and old history, and the schools here are proof of that fact. The University of Delaware has origins that go all the way back to 1743, when Presbyterian minister Francis Alison decided to open a school. In 1832, the school started to become what it is today when the founders entered into a contract to make its first college building. Then, things hit a snag when the Civil War began, and the school had to delay opening its doors. In 1870, the school officially opened for business.
Back then, it was only a school for men. In 1914, an adjoining school opened that was for women. In 1921, the school officially got the name of University of Delaware, and it became a coeducational institution. Eventually, the school became what it is today. There are many impressive academic programs, there’s an enormous campus, an award-winning athletics program, and more. There is also a long list of famous alumni that once called the school home. A select list includes:
- Joe Biden – President of the United States
- Jill Biden – First Lady of the United States
- Richard F. Heck – Nobel Prize Winning Chemist
- Lodewijk van den Berg – Astronaut
- Joe Flacco – NFL Quarterback
- Chris Christie, former Governor of New Jersey
- Johnny Weir – Olympic Figure Skater
- Rich Gannon – NFL MVP
- Tom Carper, U.S. Senator for Delaware
Goldey-Beacom College
4701 Limestone Rd Wilmington, DE 19808
©AS project/Shutterstock.com
Next on the list of the richest schools in Delaware, we have Goldey-Beacom College, which recently received an endowment of $159,899,768. This is a moderately-sized school with about 1,116 graduate and undergraduate students. Attending this college will cost students approximately $30,621 per year as of the time of this writing.
This is a private university that has a suburban campus set on 24 acres, and students here can earn associate degrees, bachelor degrees, master degrees, and award certificates. Students can earn those degrees in a number of programs, from economics to computer information systems. The school was founded way back in 1886 as the Wilmington Commercial College. The college fits a lot on those 24 acres, with five residence halls, athletic fields, a chapel, music room, fitness center, and more. Goldey-Beacom College is also well known for its athletic program, and their sports teams, which go under the name of The Lightning, compete in the NCAA Division II conference.
Wilmington University
320 Dupont Hwy New Castle, DE 19720
Recently, Wilmington University received an endowment of $119,991,912, which makes sense when you consider how large this university is, with 13,129 undergraduate and graduate students. The cost of attendance at this top-rated school is a reasonably affordable $22,400 per year for classes and room and board. This is a private university that offers a lot of bang for the buck. Students can choose from 100 different degree and certificate programs. The school is actually made up of seven different campuses that are spread all over Delaware and other states.
Wilmington University was founded in 1968, which is fairly recently when you consider the age of some of the other universities on this list. In that first year, the school had only 194 students, and it grew by leaps and bounds over the years, partially due to the efforts of one-time president Dr. Audrey K. Doberstein. This is a major American university that offers many different programs and is made up of several different colleges (College of Health Professions, College of Technology, etc.). Notable alumni of the college include:
- Anthony Allison – Soccer Player
- Paul Dochney – Twitter Personality
- Ruth Briggs King – Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
- John C. Sigler, former president, National Rifle Association
Bonus Boarding School Entry – St. Andrew's School
350 Noxontown Road, Middletown, DE 19709
One of the richest schools in Delaware is actually a major boarding school in the state. St. Andrew's School is located in Middleton, DE, and it recently received an endowment of $190 million. That’s much higher than the $25 million that the average boarding school in the country receives. Students who attend the school can expect to pay just over $62,000 per year for classes and the cost for room and board.
There are currently about 306 students at the school, and they all fall within the grades of 9-12. There’s about a 26% acceptance rate at the school. Class sizes are relatively small, with about 12 students in each, so the kids receive the personal attention that they need to succeed. The school was founded back in 1929, and it had the focus of providing academic and human excellence, and it continues to be a great school for the children of today. There are several notable alumni of St. Andrew's School, and they include:
- Ed Strong – Broadway Producer
- Michael Whalen – Composer (Over 650 television and film scores)
- Erin Burnett – CNBC News Anchor
- Maggie Rogers – Musician
- Hume Horan – American diplomat
How To Make College More Affordable
You may look at the prices for tuition on this list and worry that you can’t afford to attend and earn a degree. However, there are many ways that you can lower the cost of college. Of course, you can always apply for scholarships and grants because there are a lot from which to choose. Often, you don’t need to pay those back. You could also apply for student loans, which you would need to pay back. Some schools may offer a work-study program. Finally, you could use your personal savings and eliminate the need to pay back a debt later on.
Conclusion
This concludes our list of the richest schools in Delaware. As you can see, there are many famous and impressive schools on this list, and they come with a lot of awesome history. If you reside in this wonderful state, then any of these schools will provide the education that can help yourself or your kids thrive and succeed.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Real Window Creative/Shutterstock.com.