Tracing its origins to a free school founded in 1743 in New London, Pennsylvania, and relocating to Newark in 1765, the University of Delaware is the flagship public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university of Delaware. Spanning a 2,000-acre campus in Newark featuring Georgian red-brick architecture and the grand Central Green, UD combines chemical engineering, marine bioscience, business analytics, art conservation, and CAA athletic traditions. You can examine its founding charter, colonial origins, and campus development through the University of Delaware Wikipedia historical entry.
When you join the student body at UD, you step into a high-powered public research enterprise situated along the Mid-Atlantic commercial corridor. Living in Newark places you between Philadelphia and Baltimore, giving you direct access to corporate chemical hubs, financial centers, coastal research bays, and active student organizations.
Premier Academic Programs
UD hosts nine specialized colleges and schools holding national reputations across diverse disciplines:
- Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics: AACSB-accredited business school famous for corporate finance, hospitality management, accounting, and sports management. Explore degree options on the Lerner College of Business portal.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Nationally top-ranked leader in catalysis, soft materials, bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing, and polymer science.
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment: Global leader in marine policy, oceanography, coastal geology, and wind energy.
- Department of Art Conservation: World-renowned program in physical art preservation, material analysis, and historic artifact restoration.
- College of Health Sciences: Prepares clinical physical therapists, nurses, and biomechanics researchers in state-of-the-art facilities.
"Knowledge Is the Light of the Mind, translated from Latin as Scientia Sol Mentis, serves as UD's official motto."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily undergraduate student experience centers on the Central Green, the Morris Library, and the Trabant University Center. School spirit revolves around YouDee, the energetic costumed Blue Hen mascot who leads student cheers during NCAA Division I Coastal Athletic Association athletic events. You can read about spirit traditions and athletic programs on the official University of Delaware Blue Hens Athletics portal. Cheering inside Delaware Stadium for football games, attending concerts in Mitchell Hall, and joining over 400 student clubs creates an extraordinary campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Biopharmaceutical Innovation
UD operates a multi-billion-dollar research enterprise credited with major breakthroughs in solar cells and biopharmaceuticals:
- National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL): National research hub headquartered at UD driving advanced biopharmaceutical production.
- Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC): World's oldest solar cell research institute, pioneering thin-film photovoltaic technology. Learn more via UD Research Operations.
- Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN): Interdisciplinary research center addressing coastal sea level change, soil chemistry, and water resources.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of U.S. Presidents, First Ladies, signers of the Declaration of Independence, and Super Bowl champions, including:
- Joseph R. Biden Jr.: 46th President of the United States and former Vice President who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at UD.
- Jill Biden: Former First Lady of the United States and educator who earned her doctoral degree in education at UD.
- Joe Flacco: Super Bowl MVP quarterback who set collegiate passing records while starring for the Delaware Blue Hens.
- Elena Delle Donne: WNBA MVP, Olympic gold medalist, and basketball legend who starred for the University of Delaware.
UD provides full tuition coverage for eligible Delaware undergraduate families through the First State Promise financial aid program. Review complete application steps and deadlines on the official UD Undergraduate Admissions portal.