The Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) administers 9 state-sponsored scholarships for Delaware residents who plan to attend a post-secondary institution. These awards recognize academic achievement, financial need, and commitment to careers that strengthen Delaware’s workforce.
Academic Scholarships for High School Seniors
DHEO offers 3 merit-based scholarships for high school seniors graduating from a Delaware public or private school who are Delaware residents.
Established in honor of B. Bradford Barnes, former Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives.
Application Opens: December 1, 2025
Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors with strong academic records (minimum 3.0 GPA and SAT score of at least 1290 or ACT equivalent) and demonstrate financial need. Recipients must enroll full-time at the University of Delaware. Applicants are required to complete the online scholarship application and submit the 2026–2027 FAFSA by February 27, 2026.
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major) as well as a list of student activities. Academic records (GPA and SAT/ACT) and the 2026–2027 FAFSA will be required and collected during the review process.
Award: Covers full tuition, fees, room, board, and books at University of Delaware. Renewable for up to three years with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. One scholarship is awarded each academic year.
Established in honor of Charles L. Hebner, former Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives.
Application Opens: December 1, 2025
Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors with strong academic records (minimum 3.0 GPA and SAT score of at least 1290 or ACT equivalent). Applicants must enroll full time at any regionally accredited college.
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major) as well as a list of student activities. Student’s academic records (GPA/SAT) will be requested and collected during the review process. FAFSA is not required.
Award: $1,250 per academic year. Renewable for up to three years with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Approximately 35 students are awarded this scholarship each year.
Established in honor of Herman M. Holloway Sr., the first African American state senator in Delaware
Application Opens: December 1, 2025
Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors with strong academic records (minimum 3.0 GPA and SAT score of at least 1000 or ACT equivalent) and demonstrate financial need. Recipients must enroll full-time at Delaware State University. Applicants are required to complete the online scholarship application and submit the 2026–2027 FAFSA by February 27, 2026.
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major) as well as a list of student activities. Academic records (GPA and SAT/ACT) and the 2026–2027 FAFSA will be required and collected during the review process.
Award: Covers full tuition, fees, room, board, and books at Delaware State University. Renewable for up to three years with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. One scholarship is awarded each academic year.
Scholarship for Students with Financial Need
DHEO offers a scholarship for Delaware residents who demonstrate financial need and are either attending a Delaware institution or pursuing a degree not offered at a Delaware public institution.
Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Delaware residents who demonstrate financial need. Candidates are required to complete the online scholarship application and submit the 2026–2027 FAFSA by May 15, 2026. Applicants must also meet one of the following enrollment criteria:
- High school seniors or undergraduate students enrolled full-time in any undergraduate degree program at an accredited Delaware institution.
- Undergraduate students enrolled full-time in an out-of-state accredited institution pursuing a degree program not offered at the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, or Delaware Technical Community College.
- Graduate students enrolled full-time in an out-of-state accredited institution pursuing a degree program not offered at the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, or Delaware Technical Community College.
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major). The 2026–2027 FAFSA will be required and collected during the review process.
Award: $1,000 per academic year. The award is not automatically renewable, but students may reapply each year. Recipients are eligible to receive the award for a maximum of five awards. Approximately 750 students are awarded this scholarship each year.
Major-specific Scholarships at Delaware Colleges
DHEO offers 4 scholarship programs for Delaware residents who demonstrate financial need and are pursuing a degree in a field that leads to a high-demand career in Delaware.
Application Opens: December 1, 2025
Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Delaware residents who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled full-time in an eligible bachelor’s degree program at a Delaware public or private institution. Candidates must complete the online scholarship application and submit the 2026–2027 FAFSA by May 15, 2026. Students must be pursuing a major leading to a high-need career in Delaware.
Eligible majors for the 2026-2027 school year are:
- Accounting
- Business Administration (Business Analytics, Business Management, Human Resource Management concentrations only).
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Data Science & Analytics
- Finance
- Information Technology
- Healthcare Management/Administration
- Nursing
- Operations Management
* The Delaware Higher Education Office and the Delaware Department of Labor review employment trends in the state and update the list of high-need career fields every five years.
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major). The 2026–2027 FAFSA will be required and collected during the review process.
Award: The scholarship amount will be determined based on the eligible applicant pool and available funds. The award is not automatically renewable, but students may reapply each year. Recipients are eligible to receive a maximum of four awards. Multiple students will be awarded each year in each of the eligible high-need fields.
Application Opens: December 1, 2025
Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Delaware residents who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled full-time in an eligible bachelor’s degree program at a Delaware public or private institution. Candidates must complete the online scholarship application and submit the 2026–2027 FAFSA by May 15, 2026. Students must be pursuing a major leading to a high-need teaching area.
Teacher shortage areas for the 2026-2027 school year are:
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Foreign Language/World Language Teacher
- Immersion/Bilingual Education
- Mathematics Education (Middle level and Secondary)
- Multilingual Learners/Teachers of English Language Learners
- Science Education (Middle level and Secondary)
- Special Education (All concentrations)
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major). The 2026–2027 FAFSA will be required and collected during the review process.
Award: The scholarship amount will be determined based on the eligible applicant pool and available funds. The award is not automatically renewable, but students may reapply each year. Recipients are eligible to receive a maximum of four awards. Multiple students will be awarded each year in each of the eligible areas.
Application Opens: December 1, 2025
Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Delaware residents who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled in an eligible graduate degree program at a Delaware public or private institution. Candidates must complete the online scholarship application and submit the 2026–2027 FAFSA by May 15, 2026. Students must be pursuing a major in a high-need teaching area or education specialist field.
Teacher & specialist shortage areas for the 2026-2027 school year are:
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Foreign Language/World Language Teacher
- Immersion/Bilingual Education
- Mathematics Education (Middle level and Secondary)
- Multilingual Learners/Teachers of English Language Learners
- School Counselor
- School Nurse
- School Psychologist
- School Social Workers
- Science Education (Middle level and Secondary)
- Special Education (All concentrations)
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major). The 2026–2027 FAFSA will be required and collected during the review process.
Award: The award amount and the number of recipients will be determined each year based on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. The award is not automatically renewable, but students may reapply each year. Awards are prorated for part-time enrollment, and recipients may receive a maximum of four awards. Multiple students will be selected each year in each eligible high-need teaching area.
Application Opens: December 1, 2025
Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026 by 4:30pm.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Delaware residents who are enrolled full-time in a graduate program in speech-language pathology at a Delaware public or private institution. Candidates must complete the online scholarship application.
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major).
Award: The award amount and the number of recipients will be determined each year based on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. The award is not automatically renewable, but students may reapply each year.
Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others
This scholarship provides educational support to Delaware residents aged 16–24 who are children of deceased or missing service members, state police officers, or state highway employees under specified eligibility criteria.
Application Opens: December 1, 2025
Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 to 24 years old and have been Delaware residents for at least three consecutive years prior to the application date. The applicant’s parent must have been a Delaware resident at the time of death, or at the time they were declared missing in action or a prisoner of war. Applicants must be the child of one of the following:
- A member of the armed forces whose death was service-related, who is currently or was previously held as a prisoner of war, or who has been officially declared missing in action.
- A state police officer whose death was service-related.
- A State Department of Transportation employee routinely engaged in job-related activities on the state highway system, whose death was job-related.
Application: Apply online at Delaware Higher Education Financial Aid Portal. The application will ask for anticipated 2026–2027 enrollment information (institution and major). Additional information and the student’s 2025-2026 FAFSA will be requested and collected during the review process.
Award: This award covers tuition and fees at a Delaware public college, a Delaware private college if the program is unavailable at a public college, or an out-of-state institution if no Delaware school offers the program. Awards are prorated for students attending institutions outside this sequence and may be granted for up to four years.
Tuition-free & Reduced Tuition Scholarships at Delaware Colleges
Eligibility: Delaware State University offers a four-year, full-tuition Inspire Scholarship to qualifying Delaware high school graduates who enroll at Delaware State University in the fall semester right after high school graduation.
Deadline: Must meet Delaware State University’s deadlines to submit application for admission, complete the FAFSA and other required forms.
Award: Provides tuition assistance for up to eight semesters. Recipients must qualify annually.
Learn more: desu.edu/inspire
Contact: Delaware State University – Financial Aid Office
1200 N. DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
302-857-6250
scholarships@desu.edu
desu.edu/inspire
Eligibility for students attending Delaware Technical Community College
Provides tuition for eligible students enrolling at Delaware Technical Community College. The SEED scholarship can be applied to an associate degree, diploma, credit certificate, bachelor’s degree, or workforce training program at Delaware Tech. The free tuition can be applied to 10 semesters (potential paying for a full associate degree and one additional year toward a bachelor’s degree).
Eligibility for students attending University of Delaware
Provides tuition for eligible students enrolling in the University of Delaware’s Associate in Arts program. The free tuition can be applied to 10 semesters (potential to paying for a full associate degree and one additional year toward a bachelor’s degree).
Deadline: Must meet all institutional deadlines to apply for admission, complete the FAFSA, and submit all forms.
Award: Provides tuition after other financial aid is deducted from total tuition costs. Does not cover books, fees, or other related expenses.
Contacts:
Delaware Technical Community College
Learn more: dtcc.edu/seed
Financial Aid Office, Owens Campus, 302-855-1693
Financial Aid Office, Terry Campus, 302-857-1040
Financial Aid Office, Stanton Campus, 302-453-3706
Financial Aid Office, Wilmington Campus, 302-434-5552
University of Delaware, Student Financial Services, 302-831-2126
University of Delaware
Learn more: https://www.udel.edu/home/aap/
University of Delaware, Student Financial Services, 302-831-2126
Eligibility: Students who complete two years at Delaware Technical Community College’s SEED program or University of Delaware’s AAP program and earn an associate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Deadline: Must meet all institutional deadlines to apply for admission, complete the FAFSA and submit all forms.
Award: Provides full tuition. Scholarships are limited
Learn more: https://www.gbc.edu/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/scholarships.html
Contact: Goldey-Beacom College, Admissions Office, 302-225-6248, Admissions@gbc.edu.
Eligibility: Students who graduate with an associate degree through the SEED program with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
Deadline: Must meet all institutional deadlines to apply for admission, complete the FAFSA and submit required forms.
Award: Provides half tuition. Scholarships are subject to available funds appropriated by Wilmington University.
Learn More: https://www.wilmu.edu/scholarships/STAR_scholarship.aspx
Contact: Registrar at Wilmington University, starscholarship@wilmu.edu, 302-295-1121.
Other Financial AID Opportunities for Delaware Residents
Academic Common Market – Regional tuition-savings agreement
The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition-savings agreement between 15 southern states that are members of the Southern Regional Education Board. Students who attend a participating public institution may be eligible to receive a discounted tuition rate if their degree program is not offered at a Delaware public institution.
The 15 participating states are:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida (graduate-level programs only)
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas (graduate-level programs only)
- Virginia
- West Virginia
To be considered eligible for the ACM, you must be:
- A Delaware resident for at least 12 months from the time of the application.
- The student’s degree program is not offered at Delaware State University or University of Delaware.
- The student is accepted into an eligible baccalaureate or graduate-level degree program.
- Note: The ACM does not include first professional degree programs, such as pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, theology or law.
Things to consider:
Programs offered in the ACM are selected by the participating public colleges and are subject to change. States and colleges may also set restrictions on ACM participation, such as undergraduate or graduate-only enrollment; full-time enrollment; or the completion of specific coursework to enter the degree program.
Learn more or to apply: visit Academic Common Market – Delaware.
The Delaware College Investment Plan is sponsored by the state of Delaware and managed by Fidelity Investments. It provides parents, grandparents, and others a tax-advantaged way to save for a child’s college education. Any earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are free from federal and Delaware state income taxes. Withdrawals can be used to pay for qualified higher education expenses. The Delaware Plan offers various investment options.
To obtain an enrollment kit, call the Wilmington Investor Center at 800-201-5380 or visit https://www.fidelity.com/529-plans/delaware.
About the Delaware Higher Education Office
Under the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Higher Education Office works to increase access and success to all Delawareans in their career and college goals through advocacy, program management, scholarships, and financial aid.
Unless otherwise noted, these scholarships are funded by the state of Delaware; administered by the Delaware Higher Education Office; and require Delaware residency. Many of our needs-based programs and scholarships require students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in addition to the online application.
Funding for DHEO scholarships is dependent on state of Delaware budget resources, which are finalized July 1 each year.
Questions about state-sponsored aid? dheo@doe.k12.de.us
