| Updated On - Sep 17, 2025
University of Delaware (UD) is a public research university located in Newark, Delaware, in a large suburb/small city environment. It is a mid-sized institution with approximately 18,812 undergraduate students. Admissions is slightly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 65%. The most popular majors are Business, Social Sciences, Health Professions, Engineering, and Education. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 83-84%, and UD alumni have median earnings of around US$72,950 ten years after matriculation (for working students with federal aid).
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State, University Park) is a public land-grant research university located in University Park, Pennsylvania, in a small suburban/rural campus environment. It is a large university with some 38,639 undergraduate students (University Park campus). Admission is comparatively moderate, with an estimated acceptance rate of about 54-55%. Its popular majors are Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, Health Professions, and Computer Science. The six-year graduation rate estimates are around 85-86%, while Penn State alumni exhibit median long-term earnings slightly lower than UD's US$72,950 for some cohorts, although precise 10-year earnings are largely dependent on major and other variables.
| University of Delaware | Pennsylvania State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.7 Out of 10 | 5.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 553 QS World University 2026 # 324 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 351 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 82 QS World University 2026 # 57 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 89 QS World University 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 37 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 701 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 101 for Law by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021 | # 31 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 118 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -117 PG Programs -66 | UG Programs -163 PG Programs -116 |
| Acceptance Rate | 65.1 % | 54.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1130 TOEFL-100 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1160 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 49552 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 21538 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 26164 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 35984 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 38198 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 26664 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | 97% of the bachelors degree students get employed or pursue higher education after graduation. The average salary is around $57,386. Some of the top employers inlcude: JPMorgan Chase & Co., ChristianaCare, University of Delaware, KPMG, EY. | PhD: $150,0000- $158,000 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language scores Check program specific requirements | Submit Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) along with application, SAT/ACT scores are also accepted as language proficiency proof. You may have to fulfill additional requriements as per the program. |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | Smeal College of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.8/10 Read 7 reviews | 7.5/10 Read 18 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 401 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 68 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 92 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 110/160IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 100/120 | GMAT - 660/800IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jun 1, 2025 (Application Deadline for Fall 2025 Intake) Nov 1, 2025 (Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake) | Jun 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Delaware | Pennsylvania State University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1743 | 1855 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 |
| Male:Female | 43% Male, 57% Female | 65% Male, 35% Female |
| Location Facts | The university campus is divided into four parts: main campus, Laird campus, South campus and Delaware technology park. | It has 24 campuses located throughout the state allowing students to explore the city while learning. University Park area is situated in located in State College and College township is located in Center Country. |
| Library | The libraries that people use at the University of Delaware include the Morris Library, Chemistry Library, Physics Library, and the Education Resource Center. | Titles held: 7,240,616 |
| Campus Life | Your experience as a Blue Hen is influenced by many factors, especially the connections you make with those around you and the fun times you have together. Both Residence Life & Housing and University Student Centers can help you build a strong, positive community. Caring for your wellbeing and those around you is important. Whether it is your health, wellness, or connection to your community, the student wellbeing units help you define your journey and pursue lifelong thriving. The university has more than 400 student clubs and organizations. The tools you need to be successful during and after your time as a Blue Hen can be found at the university. Orientation & Transition Programs sets you up with everything you need to know as a new and returning university student, while the Career Center propels you towards your future by providing services such as resume review and a database for finding volunteer, internship, and job opportunities. | Engage in varsity athletics, 31 intercollegiate athletic teams, intramural clubs, Center for Spiritual and ethical development, LGBTQ resource center. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $12332 #Off campus (not with family) - $12332 #Off campus (with family) - $1500 | #On campus - $11280 #Off campus (not with family) - $11280 #Off campus (with family) - $4104 |
| Famous Alumni | Joe Biden, 46th President of the United States Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States Richard F. Heck, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate Lodewijk van den Berg, astronaut Larry Probst, CEO of Electronic Arts | Saquon Barkley (American Footballer), Adam Huber (Actor), Jerry Sandusky (football coach- America), Dan Bongino (American commentator), Safaa Al- Hashim (politician), Bo Nickal (Freestyle Wrestler). Alumni are famously called Nittany Lions. |
| City Life | Newark, DE is located in New Castle County and provides its residents with access to nearby Wilmington attractions plus several unique destinations of its own including the Newark Reservoir. The climate in Newark is quite comfortable for most of the year. The city experiences all four seasons, including very warm temperatures in the summer (June, July, August) and mildly cold temperatures in the winter (January, February). Newark is very close to some of the most interesting cities in the U.S. By car (driving distance), Newark is only: 45 minutes from Philadelphia | State College, Pennsylvania is the largest borough area. Downtown Improvement District and University Park are two major sections in State College. The neighborhood has Orchard Parks, West End, College Heights, South State College, and more. Penn State University is the largest employer followed by Mount Nittany Medical Center. You can enjoy art fests, dance night marathons, and more. |
| Weather |
University of Delaware vs Pennsylvania State University
Topic Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Penn State and UD are excellent public research universities, with Penn State typically higher ranked worldwide. UD enjoys strong recognition in fields such as Marine / Environmental Studies, Engineering, Education, and Business; Penn State enjoys wider worldwide strength in Engineering, Agriculture, Earth Sciences, Business, Medicine, and various STEM disciplines. Penn State's research funding, output, and collaborations are on a larger scale, which tends to leave it in more powerful positions on global rankings.
General Information
Penn State, whose University Park campus has a large undergraduate body (~ 38,600) and overall enrollment for all campuses even larger, is much larger than UD's ~ 24,200 total (including graduate students). UD has approximately 18,800 undergrads. UD provides an extensive array of undergraduate programs (more than 150), excellent research facilities, and a large land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant mission. Penn State also has a very broad range of programs, lots of graduate options, significant research facilities, and a large campus presence.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Penn State is more selective than UD, with acceptance of approximately 54-55%, whereas UD has an acceptance rate of about 65%. Penn State students who are admitted usually have strong credentials. Students admitted to UD also have strong credentials, although entering metrics are slightly lower on average than Penn State. UD's freshman retention rate is high (? 91.5%), which shows good student support and satisfaction at early stages.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both are R1 research universities. UD is strong in Engineering, Marine Science, Environmental Science, Health Sciences, and associated areas, as it is helped by a coastal location and research institutes. Penn State is extremely large in capacity in Engineering, Agriculture, Earth Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, etc., with numerous institutes, research centers, and extensive funding. In total research output, Penn State is much larger. UD's research is strong, especially in its niche fields, but smaller in scale compared to Penn State.
Cost & Financial Aid
UD's average costs (tuition, fees, living) and net price after aid are less than most private colleges, but out-of-staters pay more. Most UD students pay grants/scholarships/aid. Penn State also gives significant financial aid, and in-staters profit more. Net cost for UD usually is less than most of Penn State's out-of-state cost plans, although Penn State offers more variety/scholarship/aid in most situations.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UD alumni have median earnings of around US$72,950 several years post-enrollment, which is excellent. Penn State students fare as well, although median earnings by major are a bit different; some Penn State cohorts have slightly poorer long-term median earnings than UD's number, depending on discipline. Penn State's six-year graduation rate of ~ 85-86% is a bit higher than UD's ~ 83-84%. Penn State has an extremely large alumni base, which assists in internships, placements, and careers, particularly in STEM, business, and agriculture. UD also has strong outcomes, particularly in Business, Health Professions, and Education, and is helped by its proximity to the Mid-Atlantic corridor for opportunities.
