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🎓 University of Delaware Scholarships: What Parents Need to Know
The University of Delaware is a popular choice for students across the Northeast — especially those from nearby states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. While it’s a public university, out-of-state families often face a high sticker price unless their student qualifies for scholarships.
The good news? UD offers automatic merit aid, strong support for first-gen and in-state students, and special opportunities through the Honors College. But it’s not always easy to figure out what your student actually qualifies for — or what to expect in terms of cost.
If you live in Delaware, don’t forget to check out state aid programs that could help close the gap. For everyone else, this page breaks down the real cost, automatic scholarships, competitive opportunities, and hidden gems that could help bring UD within reach.
📊 Cost of Attendance |
🟦 Automatic Scholarships |
🏆 Competitive Scholarships |
💎 Hidden Gems |
🎓 Honors College |
📝 What To Do Next
💰 Cost of Attendance (2025–2026)
Below is the estimated cost before scholarships and grants, plus what families often end up paying after aid. Knowing both helps you plan more confidently—even before admissions offers.
| Category |
In‑State (DE residents) |
Out‑of‑State |
| Tuition & Fees |
≈ $15,280 |
≈ $40,840 |
| Room & Board |
~ $15,974 |
~ $15,974 |
| Books & Supplies |
~ $1,250 |
~ $1,250 |
| Personal & Transport |
~ $2,000–$3,000 |
~ $2,000–$3,000 |
| Estimated Total** |
≈ $35,500 |
≈ $60,000 |
📌 Out-of-State Tuition Note: The University of Delaware participates in the
Academic Common Market (ACM), which allows eligible students from SREB states to pay in-state tuition for approved undergraduate and graduate programs not offered in their home state.
UD does
not offer broad geographic reciprocity (like border-state waivers or WUE).
However, out-of-state students may still benefit from
merit scholarships, the
Tuition Exchange Program for dependents of faculty/staff at member institutions, and online access through
SARA.
📌 Net Price After Aid: On average, families pay around $18,000/year after scholarships and grants—UD reports an average net price of about $18,044/year. About half of students receive institutional aid averaging roughly $20,474/year.
📊 Automatic Merit Scholarships
🧠 Superscore Policy: UD superscores both SAT and ACT, meaning they will take your best section scores across multiple test dates to calculate your highest combined result. This applies to both admissions and scholarships.
UD automatically considers every admitted first-year student for academic merit scholarships—no separate application needed. Students with strong GPAs and test scores (if submitted) are most likely to qualify. You don’t need to apply separately or file the FAFSA to be considered for merit aid.
| Scholarship |
Award/year |
Typical GPA / Test Scores |
Renewable? |
| Trustee Scholarship |
$12,500–$15,000 |
GPA 3.9+; SAT ≥1300 / ACT ≥29 |
Yes (3.0+ GPA) |
| Presidential Scholarship |
$10,000–$12,000 (OOS) |
GPA 3.7–3.9; SAT ~1250 / ACT ~27–29 |
Yes (3.0+ GPA) |
| Provost Scholarship |
$8,500–$12,000 |
GPA 3.5–3.7; test scores optional |
Yes (3.0+ GPA) |
| Blue Hen / Delaware Scholar Award |
$6,500–$7,500 |
GPA 3.3–3.6; solid academic record |
Yes (3.0+ GPA) |
📌 A Quick Note: The GPA and test score ranges listed above are based on publicly available estimates and reported student data. The University of Delaware doesn’t publish exact cutoffs—instead, they often describe applicants in general terms like “top 20%” of the class. We’ve translated that into plain language as best we can to help families make sense of it.
🔄 Renewal Rules: Most UD merit scholarships renew for up to 8 semesters (four years) as long as students remain full-time and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better.
🤔 Automatic Scholarships – Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to apply separately for these scholarships?
No. You’re automatically considered for merit aid when you apply to the University of Delaware. Just make sure to submit your full academic record (including your SRAR or transcript).
Are test scores required to get merit scholarships?
No. UD is test-optional, and you can still qualify for scholarships without SAT or ACT scores. However, strong scores can help boost your chances for the top awards if you choose to submit them.
When will I find out if I got a scholarship?
Merit scholarship offers usually come out around the same time as your admissions decision. Keep an eye on your UD portal or acceptance letter.
Do I need to file the FAFSA for these scholarships?
Not for merit scholarships. But if you want to be considered for need-based aid or additional grants, you should still submit the FAFSA.
Can these scholarships be stacked with other aid?
Yes. You can usually combine UD merit scholarships with outside scholarships, Pell Grants, or state aid (like Delaware SEED or Inspire). Always check with the financial aid office if you’re unsure.
🏆 Competitive Scholarships (Honors‑Level Awards)
⚠️ Highly Selective: These awards are by invitation only to Honors College applicants. Most recipients report near-perfect GPAs and high SAT/ACT scores. Only about 100 students are invited to compete each year.
| Scholarship |
What It Covers |
Who Is Invited |
| Eugene du Pont Distinguished Scholar |
Full tuition, room & board, fees, $500/semester for books, and $2,500 enrichment grant |
Top ~100 Honors admits; often have 3.9–4.0 GPA, 1500+ SAT or 34+ ACT. (~6–8 awarded annually) |
| Marichu C. Valencia Scholar |
$15,000/year in-state or ~$32,000 total for OOS students + $5,000 enrichment stipend |
Honors invitees; strong academic record and leadership potential |
| 1743 Scholar Award |
$12,500/year in-state or ~$26,000 total for OOS students |
Honors invitees with high academic performance |
If your student is invited to Distinguished Scholar Weekend, they’ll be evaluated further—interviews, essays, and other select criteria. Even students who don’t win the top award often receive enhanced merit packages just for being invited.
📋 Other Opportunities: UD also offers departmental scholarships, alumni awards (typically around $2,000/year), and program-based funding via ScholarshipUniverse. Check your student portal for aligned options.
🎓 Most Competitive Scholarships Are Honors-Based: At the University of Delaware, nearly all top scholarships — like the Eugene du Pont and 1743 Scholars programs — are tied to the Honors College. Students must first be invited to Honors to be considered. If your student doesn’t receive that invitation, they likely won’t be eligible for the university’s largest awards.
🤔 Competitive Scholarship FAQ
Can my student apply for a full-ride scholarship at UD without being in the Honors College?
No — the biggest scholarships at UD are tied to the Honors College and are invitation-only. If your student isn’t invited, they’ll still be considered for automatic merit aid, but full-ride options likely won’t be on the table.
What does “by invitation” mean?
It means your student has to be selected by the university. After applying to UD, students with top academic records and strong applications may receive an invite to the Honors College — which opens the door to the top scholarships. There’s no separate application and no way to self-nominate.
Is there anything we can do to increase our chances of being invited?
Focus on academics (a 4.0 GPA or close to it is typical), strong extracurricular involvement, and thoughtful essays. Submitting SAT or ACT scores isn’t required but can help — most invited students score 1400+ SAT or 31+ ACT.
💎 Hidden Gems: Smaller Awards That Add Up
In addition to UD’s internal awards, Delaware residents can tap into powerful state grants and programs—even before admissions decisions are finalized.
| Scholarship |
Who It’s For |
Award Amount |
Notes |
| Walter Stark Scholar Award |
DE residents, first‑gen & need-based |
Up to $7,000/year |
FAFSA required; renewable with 3.0 GPA by Mar 31 deadline. |
| Pyeritz Family Scholarship |
First-gen majors in chem, bio, biochem |
≈ $2,000+/year |
FAFSA & major declaration required. |
| Sheetz Family Scholarship |
DE residents, first-gen & need-based |
≈ $2,000/year |
FAFSA required; renewable if need persists. |
| UD Marching Band Award |
Active UD marching band members |
≈ $400 first year; more later |
Must attend band camp and maintain performance status. |
| Alumni Scholars (UDAA) |
Children of UD alumni |
$2,000/year |
No separate application—automatically awarded at admission. |
| Delaware SEED Scholarship |
DE HS grads planning UD or DEL Tech |
Free tuition for 2‑yr associate degree or full cost for UD |
Must maintain ≥2.5 GPA; file FAFSA and enroll within year after HS. State-administered. |
| Endowed Donor Scholarships |
Varies — often for need, identity, major, or first-gen status |
≈ $500–$2,000/year |
No extra application. Must submit FAFSA by Jan 15. Awards pulled from university donor fund pool. |
📌 What “Need-Based” Means: These awards are given based on FAFSA results. Families showing financial need—like low income or household size—are typically eligible. No essay needed in most cases.
🤔 Hidden Gems – Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need to apply separately for these smaller scholarships?
In most cases, no. As long as your student applies to UD and submits the FAFSA on time, they’ll be automatically considered for most of these smaller awards. Some exceptions (like marching band) may require separate steps, but they’re usually simple.
What does “need-based” mean here?
It means the scholarship is based on your family’s income and financial situation. The FAFSA will calculate something called your “Expected Family Contribution (EFC),” and UD uses that to determine if your student qualifies for extra help. You don’t need to write extra essays or meet a certain GPA to qualify for these.
What is a donor or endowed scholarship?
These are scholarships funded by people who donated money to the university. Some are for students with specific backgrounds (like first-generation students or certain majors). If your student is a good fit, the school will award it automatically—there’s no separate application.
Can my student combine these awards with merit scholarships?
Yes! Most of these “hidden gem” scholarships can be stacked on top of automatic merit aid or outside scholarships. That means more money to reduce your total cost.
Do these affect financial aid later?
Not usually. If your student gets a scholarship, it reduces the cost you owe, but it won’t take away your eligibility for other aid unless you’re receiving more money than the total cost of college (which is rare). Always ask the financial aid office if you’re unsure.
🎓 Honors College (University of Delaware)
Honors students at UD take smaller classes, get priority registration, and access scholarships beyond regular merit awards. There’s no separate application — every admitted student is automatically reviewed for Honors when they apply.
| Feature |
What Families Should Know |
| Typical GPA for admits |
Weighted GPA 4.37–4.58 (middle 50% of Honors admits) |
| Test scores (if submitted) |
SAT ~1360–1490 or ACT ~30–34 |
| Class size |
Most honors classes are under 25 students; general lectures can be much larger |
| Advising |
Honors students get major-specific advisors from day one—no waiting until junior year. |
| GPA for staying in Honors |
3.20 first year, then 3.30 from second year on |
📘 Honors-Level Scholarships: Honors students are also considered for major competitive awards like the Eugene du Pont or Valencia scholarships—these are only for invitees. Plus, UD Honors hosts small travel/research grants.
🤔 Honors College – Common Questions
Do students have to apply separately for Honors?
No, every incoming first-year student is automatically reviewed based on GPA and transcript. You’ll only get an Honors invite if your record meets the typical academic profile above.
What’s the GPA requirement to stay in Honors?
Students must keep at least a 3.20 GPA through their first year. After that, they need 3.30 or higher overall to remain active in Honors.
Are Honors classes harder?
They’re smaller and often discussion-based, but not necessarily harder. Honors courses just expect deeper engagement. Many students say the smaller settings and personal attention help—not hurt.
✅ What to Do Next
If your student is considering UD, they’ve got a lot to look forward to—especially if they’re strong academically or a Delaware resident. But don’t wait until spring to understand your cost and aid options.
- Run the Net Price Calculator: This gives you a personalized estimate of costs with aid factored in. Try it here.
- File the FAFSA early: Aim for October to be considered for all need-based and donor scholarships.
- Watch for an Honors College invite: No extra application needed—but strong grades and a rigorous course load help.
- Ask about stacking aid: Some awards can be combined (even with state or outside scholarships).
- Download our College Offer Comparison Sheet: Helps families compare real offers side-by-side—without the fine print confusion.
And if you’re just starting this process—breathe. There’s still time to get it right, and we’ll be here for every step of the journey.
