What Every Applicant Needs To Know
Students interested in beginning or continuing their undergraduate education at the University of Delaware must apply for admission through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The University seeks a diverse student body and the positive educational benefit that results in a community that brings together a variety of experiences and viewpoints.
Applicants may choose from over 150 major fields of study and the University Studies program, undeclared. Admission requirements vary among majors, and some academic units may require evidence of special skills. Students who apply to the Music Department, for example, will be asked to perform an audition. Students who apply to the Art and Apparel Design majors will be required to submit a portfolio with their application. Acceptance to certain programs tends to be especially competitive because enrollment is limited. Students interested in changing their major prior to enrolling should request a change through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Some majors have enrollment limits and specific entry requirements. Once the first semester begins, students interested in changing majors should consult with the appropriate department or college to which they are seeking admission.
Admission to the University or to a specific major will not be guaranteed on the basis of specific class rank, test scores, or pattern of high-school subjects or performance. In evaluating student applications, the Admissions Office considers a broad range of criteria, including the depth and rigor of the college preparatory program (and trend in grades); grades earned in specific courses (especially those related to an applicant’s proposed field of study); overall grade-point index; standardized test scores; student essays; letters of recommendation; and self-appraisal. Grades of “B” and above are expected. Evidence of special talents and abilities, recommendations from counselors and teachers, leadership qualities, and recognition in extracurricular and community activities also can support an admission decision.
The University of Delaware reserves the right to refuse enrollment of any applicant. In addition, as it evaluates an application, the Admissions Committee always reserves the right to consider an applicant’s personal conduct and ethical behavior as a factor in its decision, and a decision to admit a student may be rescinded based on academic and/or behavioral issues that occur subsequent to an admission decision.
The University is eager to provide educational opportunities for adult learners who may wish to expand career opportunities or simply to take part in an exciting intellectual environment. In many cases, such students can complete degree requirements by taking courses in the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies. Qualified Delaware residents who are 60 years of age or older and who have been admitted to a degree program may attend undergraduate or graduate classes on a space-available basis without paying the application, course, registration, or other fees. Such students must cover the cost of books, laboratory supplies, and shop fees.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions reviews applications for Fall and Spring admission. Review the important dates and deadlines below to ensure you complete your application on time.
First-year Applicants
August 1 - Undergraduate Admissions application becomes available for fall 2018
October 1 - Begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
January 15 - First-year Admission Application deadline, Recommended filing date for the FAFSA
Transfer Applicants
November 1 - Transfer Admissions Application deadline for spring admission and recommended deadline for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
May 1 - Transfer Application deadline for fall admission and recommended deadline for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
How to Apply
The University of Delaware is a member of The Common Application. Prospective students may apply to the University of Delaware via The Common Application at https://www.commonapp.org/ and pay an application fee of $75. Click one of the links below for specific requirements related to first-year, transfer and international applicants.
In general, we require:
- Applicants to the University must be graduates of accredited secondary schools or have equivalent credentials.
- Send official secondary school transcripts to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
- Non-resident applicants are required to submit SAT scores (code: 5811) and/or ACT scores (code: 0634) directly from the appropriate testing agency. Delaware residents attending a Delaware high school may choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores for first-year admission consideration. Review the Test Optional policy on the Pathways for Delawareans website.
- We expect a strong high-school record with a wide range of courses, including the following course work taken in the 9th-12th grades. While minimum units are specified below, most of our admitted students take more than the minimum. The academic profiles of the most competitive applicants well exceed the minimum requirements.
- Four years of college preparatory English
- Three years of college preparatory mathematics. (Four years is recommended. For students in business and economics, engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, nutritional sciences, and food science, four years of mathematics, including trigonometry, precalculus, or calculus, are required.)
- Three years of science, including two years of a laboratory science. (For study in the sciences or in related fields such as nursing, nutritional sciences, food science, or engineering, four years of science, including three years of a lab and a physics course, are strongly recommended.)
- Four years of social sciences, which must include two years of history, one of which should be world history.
- Two years of study in the same foreign language. (Four years of study in the same foreign language is strongly recommended. Foreign language courses taken before the ninth grade do not count.)
- Two years of academic electives in fields such as English, mathematics, foreign languages, history, and social sciences or science. Academic electives do not include, for example, sports activities or driver education. The University urges high school students to take as many mathematics and English courses as possible, with special attention to the selection of senior-year courses.
- Provide two letters of recommendation, at least one should come from your school counselor.
- Complete the required Common Application essays. You may also choose to answer the optional UD supplemental questions.
Transfer Application Information
Applicants must submit transcripts from all previously attended colleges. An official, final high school transcript and official standardized test scores are required for applicants who have completed fewer than 30 transferable college credits(*) at the time of the admissions evaluation. Applicants who have received credits for Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) should submit official test scores. Applicants who wish to be evaluated for admissions without submitting their high school transcript and standardized test scores should apply only after completing at least 30 transferable college credits.
To be considered for admission, transfer students must be in good academic and discipline standing and able to return to their current or most recently attended institution. The transfer applicant’s total academic credentials are considered, including previously achieved grade-point index in all completed courses, the quality of coursework, the type of institution(s) attended, trend in grades, performance in specific courses relating to the proposed field of study, and statement of interest in attending the University of Delaware. Criteria for acceptance varies by major. Please review the minimum Requirements by Major and other relevant information on the Transfer requirements website.
Transfers students are eligible to apply to the University Honors Program if they have completed 17 or fewer college credits at the time of enrollment. An official high school transcript and standardized test scores must also be submitted for consideration. Limited opportunities within the University Honors Program may be available for high ability applicants with no more than 30 credits, however official high school transcript and standardized test scores must also be submitted for consideration.
International Application Information
International students attending the University of Delaware represent over 100 countries. The Office for International Students and Scholars assists these individuals in adapting to their new environment and to the American educational system. (Please see section on “Resources for Students .”) English tutoring, orientation seminars, “homes away from home”, educational field trips, and participation in community activities are included in the program for international students.
International applicants should review the international admissions requirements before completing the Common Application for admission to the University of Delaware.
We require all applicants whose first language is not English to adequately demonstrate English competency as a part of the application process. Students may demonstrate competency by submitting scores from IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL. The University of Delaware requires an overall band score of a 6.5 or higher on the IELTS and a 90 on the TOEFL iBT. Applicants to the Nursing major must have a minimum TOEFL score of 100 iBT.
The TOEFL code for Delaware is 5811.
Please contact the test center directly where you took the IELTS test and request that your official test scores be sent to the address below. We do not accept unofficial Test Report Forms from students. An institutional code is NOT required for the IELTS.
Submit to:
University of Delaware
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
210 South College Avenue
Newark, DE 19716
International students who need to improve their English skills but meet the University’s academic requirements may be admitted through Academic Transition. In this program you will improve your academic skills, be conditionally admitted to UD without a TOEFL/IELTS score, earn 24 University credits while studying academic English, develop the academic, leadership and social skills needed university success.
Under federal law, the University is permitted to enroll non-immigrant foreign students.
Meet The Challenge Of The Honors Program
Students apply to the University Honors Program by completing the Honors section of the Common Application for Undergraduate Admission. Read more about this program in the “Opportunities to Enrich Your Undergraduate Education ” section. Honors students may select any academic major on campus. Although there are no rigid test-score or grade-point cutoffs, certain levels of achievement are typical of Honors students. Most Honors freshmen are in the top 5 percent of their high school graduating class, and nearly all are in the top 10 percent. The program enrolls fewer than 600 freshmen each year. The middle 50 percent of students admitted to Honors had high-school grade-point averages between 3.87 and 4.14 (on a 4-point scale), and SAT scores between 1400 - 1500 (Scores reflect a conversation from the old SAT to the new SAT).
Click here to learn more information on the Honors Program.
Commitment to Delawareans
We Are Committed to Delawareans
Delaware residents come first at UD. It is a commitment we take very seriously-a promise to residents of our state to provide an an affordable, top-quality education. Delaware residents can be assured they will not compete with non-residents for spaces at the University.
Preparing you for admission
The goal of our Commitment to Delawareans is to prepare you for admission to the University of Delaware. We remain true to this goal by providing you and other students in our state with the “academic roadmap” that shows the courses and level of performance you should achieve to be well prepared for admission
Keeping UD affordable
We strive to make a UD education affordable to you and other qualified residents of our state. We pledge to meet your full demonstrated financial need-up to the cost of in-state tuition, fees, a stipend for books, and on-campus room and board-as long as you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline, January 15. Our goal is that you will not have loans in excess of 25 percent of the cost of your four-year education.
Additional information, including a complete guide to requirements, can be found at www.udel.edu/commitment.
Earning College Credit During High School Enrollment
The University recognizes competencies attained through its courses, through courses completed in secondary school, and through independent study. Students may earn Advanced Placement (A.P.) or International Baccalaureate (I.B.) test credit by sending their official score report to the Office of Admissions. For more information regarding possible test credit, please refer to the Registrars website.
Alternatively, credit based on examination results may be offered for some curricular areas. See the “Earn Credit by Examination ” section in the “Undergraduate Academic Regulations” section for more information.
Students that undertake a course experience via high school/college programs cannot receive both transfer and test credit for the same coursework. In those cases, UD recognizes the college transfer work and does not award the AP credit.
Enter Delaware At The Time That’s Right For You
Admission or readmission to the University is granted for a specific semester, fall or spring. All offers of admission or readmission are contingent upon maintaining a satisfactory academic performance and a positive personal record. The University may cancel the acceptance of any student who fails to matriculate in the specified semester and/or who fails to successfully complete all coursework in progress. Any requests for deferred admission should be submitted in writing to the Admissions Office. The student’s credentials are reevaluated in such cases, and the request may be granted, depending on the availability of space. In no circumstance will the Admissions Office return applications and supporting materials once they are submitted for consideration.
Academic Renewal May Allow You To Start Over
When a student leaves the University without earning a degree, the student may apply for readmission to the University under the Academic Renewal policy. Students returning to UD after a separation of at least 5 calendar years are eligible for academic renewal if they earn a “C” or better in each course for 12 credit hours after their return. The student’s GPA will be calculated from this point on, excluding grades from previously completed coursework.
The following regulations govern this option:
- Students must consult with the Assistant Dean of the college in which the student plans to major to select and receive written approval for the specific 12 credits of course work that will be taken to qualify for academic renewal in advance of registering for those courses.
- The request for academic renewal will be processed after successfully completing the approved 12 credit hours of course work. Failure to complete any of the courses with a grade of C or better makes the student ineligible for academic renewal.
- All courses and grades will remain on the student’s transcript and will be identified.
- Credits completed prior to readmission with a grade of “C-” or better may be counted toward the degree.
- A minimum of thirty additional credits applicable toward the degree must be earned following the Academic Renewal. These thirty credits may include the 12 credits required under #2 above.
- Academic renewal can be granted only once during the student’s enrollment at the University.
- Students who have been granted academic renewal are not eligible for a degree with Latin Honors.
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation (NSO) is a program through which newly admitted UD students familiarize with the University of Delaware campus and community, and learn what is expected of them as Blue Hens. Learn more about NSO under Student Life, Campus Activities, and Dining .
Earn An Associate Degree En Route To The BA Or BS
Delaware residents may choose or be placed in the University of Delaware Associate in Arts Program (AAP), a two-year curriculum that promotes successful completion of the Associate in Arts degree. An Associate’s degree can also be a valuable intermediate goal, guaranteeing eligibility to transition into a UD bachelor’s degree program in the junior year. A minimum of 60 credits is required for the Associate in Arts degree.
The Associate in Arts Program is designed for students we believe would benefit from additional support, including small classes, individualized attention, and a structured curriculum, before relocating to the Newark campus. Students begin their University of Delaware career at one of the Associate in Arts campuses in Dover, Georgetown, or Wilmington and transition to the Newark campus upon completion of the A.A. degree. Students are taught the same courses available at the Newark campus, by UD faculty members.
As a non-residential program, tuition for the Associate in Arts Program is reduced and students may also qualify for the State of Delaware SEED Scholarship Program. The lower tuition and the eligibility for a SEED scholarship apply only to UD students who enroll in the Associate in Arts Program in Dover, Georgetown, or Wilmington. Therefore, students who take advantage of the lower tuition or a SEED scholarship should realize that they must be willing to spend two full years in the program and complete the associate degree before being permitted to enroll on the Newark campus.
AAP students carry a UD ID card and have many of the same privileges as students at the main Newark campus, including:
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admission to athletic events;
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use of the Morris Library and UD fitness center; and
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the opportunity to participate in activities like Marching Band, ROTC and hundreds of student organizations.
AAP promotes academic success by offering:
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small class sizes;
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close faculty contact;
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substantially reduced tuition-perhaps even free, if a student qualifies for the State of Delaware SEED Scholarship; and
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the opportunity to take classes in Newark during winter and summer sessions, and participate in study abroad, alternative spring break, internships and other programs offered on the Newark campus.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR NURSING STUDENTS IN SUSSEX COUNTY
Beebe Healthcare’s Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing and the University of Delaware have partnered on a new program designed to provide a pathway for nursing students in Sussex County. You will enroll in both the Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing and in the UD Associate in Arts Program (AAP) at our Georgetown Campus, earning both a nursing diploma and an Associate in Arts degree. After completing the diploma program, you can work as a registered nurse while earning a UD Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
Students should also consult the Associate in Arts Program website here.
Enjoy Flexibility With Interinstitutional Degree Programs
The University of Delaware, in cooperation with Delaware Technical & Community College, offers opportunities to continue toward a baccalaureate degree to students who complete associate degrees in specific technologies. Students in some majors may complete degree requirements by taking courses at University facilities in southern Delaware. It may be possible for part-time students to complete course work during the late afternoon and evening.
For information on the curriculum in associate/bachelor’s Connected Degree Programs currently available to graduates of Delaware Technical & Community College, please consult the contacts listed below.
Biology/Biotechnology
Professor David Usher - 831-6685
Chemistry
Dr. John Burmeister - 831-1130
Computer and Information Sciences
Professor Stephen Siegel - 831-2586
Criminal Justice
Professor Eric Rise - 831-8679
Early Childhood Education
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 831-6500
Electrical Engineering
Professor Mark Mirotznik - 831-4241
Engineering Technology
Professor William Ritter - 831-2468
Food and Agribusiness Management
Professor Steven Hastings - 831-1318
Health Behavior Science: Fitness Management
Professor Elizabeth Orsega-Smith - 831-6681
Human Services
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 831-6500
Mathematical Sciences B.A. or B.S.
Professor David Edwards - 831-1871
Mathematics Secondary Education
Professor Jinfa Cai - 831-1879
Medical Technology
Professor Anna Ciulla - 831-2849
Nursing
Professor Karen Avino - 831-8506
All telephone numbers are in area code (302).
To be eligible for the interinstitutional baccalaureate program, students must earn an associate degree or the equivalent in an appropriate technology from Delaware Technical & Community College. In most cases, associate-degree course work completed with a grade of “C” or better can be transferred to the University. The balance of the bachelor’s degree requirements must be satisfied by completing University courses.
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