Rate this HBCU Day 19: Delaware State University

[DrBanneker]

Yesterday we covered the rising star of the smaller HBCUs, Claflin University, which received a high average score of 8.

See the updated leaderboard here

Next we turn to one of the northernmost HBCUs and the only one in Delaware--Delaware State University. A land grant college located in the capital of Delaware, it is unusual for a public school in having the majority of its students coming from out of state--though not surprising given Delaware's small population. Many come from the other two tri-state area states (PA, NJ) as well as NY and the DMV (where their main MEAC rival UMES also pulls from). Delaware State is a good deal for Black Delaware residents though with tuition under $10k.

Delaware State recently became the first HBCU to acquire a non-HBCU school when it absorbed Dover's Wesley College. Delaware State offers the standard courses for a liberal arts state school but has been trying to pivot to STEM recently with investments such as its optics technology program (see new building below). It also seems to have some of the nicest dorms of HBCUs I've seen, at least with the new Tubman Laws dorms.

Basic data (all data 2021 unless otherwise noted)

Founded: 1891

City, State: Dover, DE

Type: 4-Year, Public

Nickname: Hornets

Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 5,200 (4,399 undergraduate), 70% Black

Out of State Percentage: 59%

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 16:1

Admissions Acceptance Rate: 59%

4-yr/6-yr graduation rates: 33% / 47%

Transfer out rate: 9%

Male/Female percentages (Female:Male Ratio): 33% male / 67% female (2:1)

Tuition: In-State: $8.4k, Out-of-State: $18.3k

Median Debt After Graduation: $26,000
Median Earning 10-Years after 10 years from freshman year: $42,994

Median Earnings for specific majors after 3 years after graduation:
Nursing: $69k, Business Administration: $53k, Accounting: $53k, Social Work: $43k, Sports Medicine: $43k

Top Majors by Degrees:
Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Education, Psychology, Sports Medicine, Nursing, Biology


Endowment: $43M (including a $20M donation from MacKenzie Scott)

Alumni Engagement:

Athletic Conference: MEAC (Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference) - NCAA Div 1

Mascot: Hornets

Notable Alumni:

David G. Turner banking finance executive including Bank of America and WSFS bank. Currently managing partner at IBM Financial Services NA

Wayne Gilchrest former moderate Republican (turned Democrat in 2019) congressman for Maryland's 1st congressional district, 1990–2009

Jamaal Jackson former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman, 2003-2010

SZA, singer

Main Campus

Student Center

Optical Science Center

Tubman-Laws Residence Hall

Alumni Stadium

The Approaching Storm Marching Band

The Swarm

D'Elegance Dance Team

Miss Delaware State

DSU knowledge? @Steel @Kliq_Souf @The solid one @Mr.Plan B @Guile @mag357 @Maddmike

@SupaVillain @Tug life @Idaeo @get these nets @Smokee Robinson @MostReal @Tee @Bryan Danielson @Rollie Forbes @Willie Lump Lump @staticshock @Charlie Hustle @Karume @BigAggieLean. @Optimus Prime @How Sway? @DropTopDoc @TheKongoEmpire @Son_Of_God @Theolodius_Black @mson @xoxodede @Anerdyblackguy @EndDomination @ab.aspectus @Peachstate @Gloxina @HarlemHottie @Originalman

 

[Kliq_Souf]

I didn’t go there, but a lot of girls i went to HS went there or Cheyney.
I frequently went to hang out with girls, they had baddies there for sure. And the parties was lit.

Can’t tell you about the academic side

 

[Nameischosen]

I actually went with my girlfriend at the time to enroll with her family. that was the last time i seen her. she went and cheated on me and when she came back to the bronx. I robbed all her fiends and left one person in the hospital. lmao
its a trash school for social outcast. only thing they have is the pilot program.

 

[get these nets]

I actually went with my girlfriend at the time to enroll with her family. that was the last time i seen her. she went and cheated on me and when she came back to the bronx. I robbed all her fiends and left one person in the hospital. lmao
its a trash school for social outcast. only thing they have is the pilot program.

Don't clutter this series with shuck and jive posts.

 

[GoAggieGo.]

Don’t know too much about the school, outside of the campus being beautiful. Had some business in Dover a few years ago and made a quick stop. Nice, quiet little town. If I’m not mistaken, I saw some signs that said some beaches were nearby.

That optics building is nice. Also, the origins of their students isn’t too big of a shock. Probably not too many southern kids. I believe we have an alum that posts here

 

[desjardins]

Use to talk to a couple chicks from Philly who ended up going there. An oldhead I know went as well. School seems relatively lowkey, despite being close to other HBCUs and a major city

 

[get these nets]

They get +1 because the current POTUS has ties to the school/state and has directed a lot of resources their way. DSU president Tony Allen was appointed the Chair of the President's Advisor Council for HBCUs.

Did not know that they had so many out of state students. We posted the story of them getting the governor to expand free tuition program to retain more in state students a few years back

Delaware Gov John Carney signs bill to expand Inspire Scholarship at Delaware State University

October 7, 2021
DOVER, Del. – Gov. John Carney celebrated the anniversary of the landmark Inspire Scholarship at Delaware State University on Wednesday by signing and enacting Senate Bill 95, which will help students complete their degrees debt-free and enter the workforce prepared for good-paying careers in high demand throughout Delaware and the region.

Increasing the % of in state students is key to the future of the school as they would be most likely to remain engaged after graduation. And with no/less debt, it expands their career options and probably more likely to donate back.

 

[staticshock]

My young ignorant self was surprised to learn it was a HBCU in Delaware when I first heard about it 20 years ago..but then I found out there are black folks in Delaware, & it isn’t too far from Philly. I don’t know anyone who went there but I’ve heard the campus is nice. It’ll be nice if they can send recruiters down here..I know their priority is probably kids in their region but a lot of kids down here are looking to get away from home & experience new things. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of their representatives at college fairs down here.

I know their band performed before one of the nascar races a few years back because the track is right across the street. Their band director 6-10 years ago was doing an amazing job building up their program..they really had next up but he got fired after a student alleged he groped him sexually

@DrBanneker my bad bro but a lot of these schools I can only contribute news on their band lol.

 

[Rekkapryde]

I actually went with my girlfriend at the time to enroll with her family. that was the last time i seen her. she went and cheated on me and when she came back to the bronx. I robbed all her fiends and left one person in the hospital. lmao

 

[get these nets]

] my bad bro but a lot of these schools I can only contribute news on their band lol.

Bands are a part of HBCU history and tradition, so it's good that we have member(s) with experience and insight.
Thanks

 

[The_Sheff]

My young ignorant self was surprised to learn it was a HBCU in Delaware when I first heard about it 20 years ago..but then I found out there are black folks in Delaware, & it isn’t too far from Philly. I don’t know anyone who went there but I’ve heard the campus is nice. It’ll be nice if they can send recruiters down here..I know their priority is probably kids in their region but a lot of kids down here are looking to get away from home & experience new things. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of their representatives at college fairs down here.

I know their band performed before one of the nascar races a few years back because the track is right across the street. Their band director 6-10 years ago was doing an amazing job building up their program..they really had next up but he got fired after a student alleged he groped him sexually

@DrBanneker my bad bro but a lot of these schools I can only contribute news on their band lol.

I was shocked when i learned that shyt too. I was up in Maryland and decided to go over to Delaware because why not. When i told folks at work i was gonna venture out they were telling me about some rough parts to stay away from but me being from the A, i was like "man aint nobody shook of driving around Deleware" . I ended up somewhere and it was nikkas GALORE.

 

[Cereal_Bowl_Assassin]

Nothing but love for schools like Del State, Chaney and Lincoln. Every time I went to Del State it was pretty chill, nice looking ladies and the parties were lit too.

The only thing imo that hbcu's in the north east lack is that pure hbcu feel when compared to southern hbcu's (if that makes any sense).

 

[staticshock]

I actually went with my girlfriend at the time to enroll with her family. that was the last time i seen her. she went and cheated on me and when she came back to the bronx. I robbed all her fiends and left one person in the hospital. lmao
its a trash school for social outcast. only thing they have is the pilot program.

Idk how the fukk I skipped over this

I was shocked when i learned that shyt too. I was up in Maryland and decided to go over to Delaware because why not. When i told folks at work i was gonna venture out they were telling me about some rough parts to stay away from but me being from the A, i was like "man aint nobody shook of driving around Deleware" . I ended up somewhere and it was nikkas GALORE.

Bruh if a place didn’t have sports teams or a rapper was representing them, 12-18 year old me thought it was on some Mayberry shyt smh

 

[staticshock]

Nothing but love for schools like Del State, Chaney and Lincoln. Every time I went to Del State it was pretty chill, nice looking ladies and the parties were lit too.

The only thing imo that hbcu's in the north east lack is that pure hbcu feel when compared to southern hbcu's (if that makes any sense).

It makes sense…I’m speaking out of ignorance, but it doesn’t seem like high school football or bands are big in the north. In the south that shyt is damn near a religion.

That passion & love carries over to colleges in the south.

 

[DrBanneker]

.but then I found out there are black folks in Delaware, & it isn’t too far from Philly

I was shocked when i learned that shyt too. I was up in Maryland and decided to go over to Delaware because why not. When i told folks at work i was gonna venture out they were telling me about some rough parts to stay away from but me being from the A, i was like "man aint nobody shook of driving around Deleware" . I ended up somewhere and it was nikkas GALORE.

Yeah I am in the Philly area and there are a good amount of Black folks in DE. It gets a bad wrap overall because of the crime in Wilmington (which is large per capita but numbers wise isn't huge). There is a large working class Black community in New Castle.

Also, a good number of middle class Black folks in the Philly area and southern NJ are moving to the Middletown, DE area. It's about 30% Black now and the median Black household income there is $100k+. That's where I would live if I moved to DE.

But yeah, DE is boring unless you like the beach. But Philly is 30 minutes north for most places people live and DC is two hours south so you have options if you care to travel.