Best Value Degrees in Delaware (2026)
The best college programs in Delaware, ranked by overall value. We scored 94 programs across Delaware schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $47,855/yr in graduate earnings.
Why Wilmington's Nursing Program is a Direct Pipeline to High Pay
Wilmington University’s #1 ranking for Nursing isn't an accident; it's by design. The university specializes in career advancement for working adults, meaning its program is deeply integrated with Delaware's healthcare employers. This creates a direct pipeline where students upskill and immediately command high salaries ($86,703/yr), justifying its top value score despite its private, non-profit tuition.
The ROI Outlier: How a Community College Delivers a 42.5x Return
The most stunning financial outcome on this list comes from a community college. Delaware Technical Community College-Terry’s Nursing program (#9) delivers a massive 42.5x Return on Investment by combining rock-bottom tuition ($19,860) with elite-level earnings ($86,455/yr). This is possible because an associate degree is the fastest, cheapest path to becoming a high-earning Registered Nurse, bypassing the higher costs of a traditional four-year university for the initial credential.
AI is Reshaping Tech and Accounting. Here's What It Means for You.
Many top programs in Computer Science and Accounting carry a "Very High" AI risk (up to 65%), but this doesn't mean the jobs are disappearing—it means they are changing. AI is automating routine entry-level tasks like basic coding and data verification. Your future value will not be in manual execution but in architecting complex systems, critically evaluating AI-generated outputs, and making strategic decisions that automation can't.
The University of Delaware's Near-Monopoly on Value
The University of Delaware holds a staggering 13 of the top 20 spots, reflecting the consolidated power of the state's flagship public institution. As Delaware's primary R1 research university, UDel attracts the most resources, top faculty, and corporate recruiting attention for fields like engineering and finance. This concentration of power allows it to offer a breadth of high-performing programs that smaller, more specialized colleges simply can't match across the board.
Leading the field for Best Degrees in Delaware
The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 94 programs below.
Top Programs in Delaware
Top 94 programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full analysis.
| # | Program | DW Score | Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Nursing
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
88
84–88
|
$86,703/yr | High | 18.1x |
| 2 |
Nursing
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
87
84–87
|
$84,049/yr | High | 19.5x |
| 3 |
Information Sciences
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
86
79–87
|
$75,310/yr | Very High | 16.3x |
| 4 |
Nursing
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
85
81–85
|
$81,286/yr | High | 13.6x |
| 5 |
Accounting
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
84
81–86
|
$71,491/yr | Very High | 15.5x |
| 6 |
Finance
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
83
80–84
|
$66,889/yr | Very High | 14.4x |
| 7 |
IT Management
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
81
75–83
|
$56,597/yr | Very High | 18.9x |
| 8 |
Information Sciences
Strayer University-Delaware · Wilmington, DE
|
81
75–82
|
$67,315/yr | Very High | 14.0x |
| 9 |
Nursing
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry · Dover, DE
|
79
76–79
|
$86,455/yr | High | 42.5x |
| 10 |
Information Science
Strayer University-Delaware · Wilmington, DE
|
79
73–80
|
$71,167/yr | Very High | 14.7x |
| 11 |
Business Administration
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
76
70–77
|
$58,041/yr | High | 13.1x |
| 12 |
Electrical Engineering
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
73
70–75
|
$75,877/yr | Very High | 17.0x |
| 13 |
Economics
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
73
69–74
|
$55,905/yr | Very High | 12.1x |
| 14 |
Accounting
Goldey-Beacom College · Wilmington, DE
|
73
69–75
|
$57,534/yr | Very High | 11.1x |
| 15 |
Chemical Engineering
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
71
68–72
|
$80,564/yr | High | 13.7x |
| 16 |
Management Information Systems
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
71
65–74
|
$73,332/yr | Very High | 15.7x |
| 17 |
Marketing
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
71
65–72
|
$54,390/yr | Very High | 14.2x |
| 18 |
Civil Engineering
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
70
68–71
|
$72,783/yr | High | 12.7x |
| 19 |
Mechanical Engineering
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
70
67–72
|
$74,313/yr | Very High | 13.2x |
| 20 |
Management Science
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
70
66–71
|
$73,420/yr | Very High | 10.4x |
| 21 |
Accounting
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
69
67–71
|
$47,047/yr | Very High | 11.9x |
| 22 |
Business
Strayer University-Delaware · Wilmington, DE
|
69
64–70
|
$55,431/yr | High | 10.6x |
| 23 |
Business Administration
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
68
63–69
|
$44,022/yr | High | 14.7x |
| 24 |
Mathematics
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
68
62–69
|
$52,308/yr | Very High | 13.3x |
| 25 |
Business Administration
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
68
62–69
|
$44,876/yr | High | 12.8x |
| 26 |
Accounting
Strayer University-Delaware · Wilmington, DE
|
68
65–70
|
$52,373/yr | Very High | 9.7x |
| 27 |
Subject-Area Teaching
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
67
68–68
|
$49,041/yr | High | 8.6x |
| 28 |
Biomedical Engineering
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
66
64–67
|
$71,980/yr | High | 13.2x |
| 29 |
Computer Engineering
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
66
59–67
|
$73,750/yr | Very High | 10.5x |
| 30 |
Chemistry
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
66
62–67
|
$54,055/yr | High | 11.0x |
| 31 |
Teacher Education
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
65
69–66
|
$48,003/yr | High | 10.2x |
| 32 |
Teacher Education
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
64
68–65
|
$47,728/yr | High | 11.2x |
| 33 |
Teacher Education
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
63
67–64
|
$48,587/yr | High | 7.8x |
| 34 |
Environmental Engineering
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
63
61–64
|
$65,634/yr | Very High | 11.8x |
| 35 |
Clinical Laboratory Science
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
63
62–63
|
$73,722/yr | Moderate | 10.7x |
| 36 |
Human Resources
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
63
57–64
|
$58,049/yr | High | 11.2x |
| 37 |
Apparel and Textiles
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
62
58–63
|
$47,760/yr | High | 10.7x |
| 38 |
Finance
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
62
60–63
|
$49,275/yr | Very High | 9.0x |
| 39 |
International Business
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
59
53–60
|
$57,941/yr | Very High | 8.0x |
| 40 |
Hospitality Management
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
58
49–58
|
$37,563/yr | High | 10.3x |
| 41 |
Criminal Justice
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
58
48–59
|
$43,726/yr | Moderate | 10.4x |
| 42 |
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
57
51–58
|
$52,185/yr | High | 7.1x |
| 43 |
Software Development
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
56
52–58
|
$46,211/yr | Very High | 8.6x |
| 44 |
Criminal Justice
Strayer University-Delaware · Wilmington, DE
|
56
46–57
|
$43,405/yr | Moderate | 8.9x |
| 45 |
Agricultural Business
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
54
46–54
|
$49,885/yr | High | 6.8x |
| 46 |
Biology
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
54
52–55
|
$39,746/yr | High | 11.2x |
| 47 |
Design
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
54
56–55
|
$42,585/yr | High | 10.0x |
| 48 |
Educational Administration and Supervision
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
53
57–54
|
$44,463/yr | High | 9.9x |
| 49 |
Engineering Physics
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
52
50–53
|
$54,210/yr | Very High | 12.1x |
| 50 |
Communication and Media Studies
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
52
45–53
|
$41,897/yr | High | 10.8x |
| 51 |
Political Science
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
51
49–52
|
$31,972/yr | Very High | 11.3x |
| 52 |
Physics
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
49
47–51
|
$52,741/yr | Very High | 7.2x |
| 53 |
Criminology
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
48
35–48
|
$35,968/yr | High | 9.1x |
| 54 |
Public Health
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
48
48–49
|
$35,437/yr | High | 8.9x |
| 55 |
Nutrition & Food Science
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
47
45–48
|
$39,066/yr | High | 5.1x |
| 56 |
Public Policy Analysis
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
47
46–48
|
$36,796/yr | High | 9.6x |
| 57 |
Biology
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
46
44–47
|
$39,327/yr | High | 11.4x |
| 58 |
Health & Physical Education
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
46
45–47
|
$26,555/yr | Moderate | 11.6x |
| 59 |
Public Relations & Advertising
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
46
46–47
|
$40,408/yr | High | 7.2x |
| 60 |
Marketing
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
46
41–47
|
$39,794/yr | Very High | 7.1x |
| 61 |
Criminology
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
45
34–45
|
$30,710/yr | High | 12.2x |
| 62 |
History
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
45
44–46
|
$34,753/yr | High | 7.8x |
| 63 |
Criminal Justice
Goldey-Beacom College · Wilmington, DE
|
45
35–46
|
$32,960/yr | Moderate | 5.1x |
| 64 |
Research and Experimental Psychology
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
44
45–45
|
$31,532/yr | High | 8.6x |
| 65 |
Natural Resources & Conservation Research
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
43
39–43
|
$38,908/yr | High | 8.7x |
| 66 |
International Relations
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
43
42–44
|
$38,250/yr | High | 7.8x |
| 67 |
Social Work
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
42
56–43
|
$33,413/yr | Moderate | 11.9x |
| 68 |
Biochemistry
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
42
40–43
|
$47,912/yr | High | 6.4x |
| 69 |
Neuroscience
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
42
42–42
|
$31,854/yr | High | 11.7x |
| 70 |
Health Sciences
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
42
39–42
|
$47,002/yr | High | 8.5x |
| 71 |
Computer Programming
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
40
41–40
|
$35,551/yr | Very High | 6.2x |
| 72 |
Psychology
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
40
39–41
|
$35,666/yr | High | 8.6x |
| 73 |
Animal Sciences
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
39
35–40
|
$40,317/yr | High | 5.3x |
| 74 |
Plant Sciences
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
39
34–40
|
$39,362/yr | High | 5.1x |
| 75 |
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
39
42–39
|
$41,066/yr | Low | 9.4x |
| 76 |
Sociology
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
38
37–39
|
$29,714/yr | High | 8.4x |
| 77 |
Pre-Veterinary Studies
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
37
31–38
|
$29,598/yr | High | 10.8x |
| 78 |
English
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
37
31–38
|
$32,487/yr | Very High | 8.3x |
| 79 |
Behavioral Sciences
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
37
37–38
|
$38,937/yr | High | 8.7x |
| 80 |
Agriculture
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
36
28–37
|
$38,873/yr | High | 10.5x |
| 81 |
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
36
41–36
|
$35,998/yr | Low | 11.1x |
| 82 |
Health & Physical Education
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
34
33–35
|
$25,704/yr | Moderate | 10.1x |
| 83 |
Psychology
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
34
34–34
|
$27,012/yr | High | 10.2x |
| 84 |
Romance Languages
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
34
26–35
|
$36,297/yr | Very High | 4.6x |
| 85 |
Communication and Media Studies
Delaware State University · Dover, DE
|
33
28–33
|
$30,098/yr | High | 10.1x |
| 86 |
Human Services
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
33
47–34
|
$32,812/yr | Moderate | 7.3x |
| 87 |
Agriculture
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
32
25–33
|
$39,696/yr | High | 5.2x |
| 88 |
Ethnic & Cultural Studies
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
31
21–32
|
$38,124/yr | Very High | 4.9x |
| 89 |
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
30
31–31
|
$33,296/yr | High | 4.2x |
| 90 |
Health Sciences
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
29
31–30
|
$35,637/yr | High | 4.5x |
| 91 |
Fine Arts
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
27
25–28
|
$21,935/yr | Moderate | 6.2x |
| 92 |
Education
Wilmington University · New Castle, DE
|
25
34–25
|
$33,890/yr | High | 7.5x |
| 93 |
Dietetics & Nutrition
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
24
22–24
|
$17,669/yr | High | 7.9x |
| 94 |
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
University of Delaware · Newark, DE
|
18
17–19
|
$22,411/yr | High | 6.2x |
Frequently asked
What is the best college program in Delaware?
By DegreeOutlook Score, Nursing at Wilmington University ranks #1 in Delaware with a score of 88/100 and graduate earnings of $86,703/yr.
How many college programs are in Delaware?
Our database includes 94 programs across Delaware colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.