University of Delaware

Also known as UD, Delaware College, UDel

university in Newark, Delaware, USA

Key facts

Former names: Free School (1743–1765), Newark Academy (1765–1833), Newark College (1833–1843), Delaware College (1843–1921), Women's College of Delaware (1914–1921)
Motto: Scientia Sol Mentis Est ( Latin )
Motto in english: Knowledge is the light of the mind
Type: Privately governed, state-assisted land-grant research university
Established: 1743 ; 283 years ago ( 1743 ) (officially chartered 1769; became a college 1833)
Accreditation: MSCHE
Academic affiliations: ORAU Sea-grant Space-grant
Endowment: $2.06 billion (2025)
President: Laura Carlson
Provost: William Farquhar (interim)
Academic staff: 1,328 (fall 2023)

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Article

The University of Delaware (UD, UDel, or Delaware) is a privately governed, state-assisted land-grant research university in Newark, Delaware, United States. UD offers 4 associate programs, 163 bachelor's programs, 136 master's programs, and 64 doctoral programs across its ten colleges and schools. The main campus is in Newark, with satellite campuses in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes, and Georgetown. With 24,221 students as of fall 2023, UD is the largest university in Delaware by enrollment.

UD is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". According to the National Science Foundation, UD spent $186 million on research and development in 2018, ranking it 119th in the nation.