The Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) administers eight state-sponsored scholarships for Delaware residents who plan to attend a post-secondary institution.
Academic Scholarships for High School Seniors
DHEO administers three academic merit-based scholarships for high school seniors graduating from a Delaware public or private school.
Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Deadline: Submit the scholarship application by 4:30 p.m. Friday, February 28, 2025. Applicant must file the 2025-2026 FAFSA before February 28, 2025.
Eligibility: High school seniors who have a combined minimum SAT score of 1290. Applicant must enroll full time at University of Delaware.
Application Requirements: The online application will request the student’s anticipated enrollment information for 2025-2026 (institution and major) and a list of student activities. Student’s academic records (GPA/SAT) and 2025-2026 FAFSA will be requested and collected during the review process.
Award: 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 awarded per academic year.
Apply today by creating your online application at: DHEO Student Account Homepage
In honor of the former Speaker of the state House of Representatives
Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Deadline: Submit the scholarship application by 4:30 p.m. Friday, February 28, 2025.
Eligibility: High school seniors who have a combined minimum SAT score of 1290. Applicant must enroll full time at a regionally accredited college.
Application Requirements: The online application will request the student’s anticipated enrollment information for 2025-2026 (institution and major) and 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 cumulative GPA of 3.0. About 40 students are selected each year.
In honor of the first African American state Senator in Delaware
Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Deadline: Submit the scholarship application by 4:30 p.m. Friday, February 28, 2025. Applicant must file the 2025-2026 FAFSA before February 28, 2025.
Eligibility: High school seniors who have a combined minimum SAT score of 1000. Applicant must enroll full time at Delaware State University.
Application Requirements: The online application will request the student’s anticipated enrollment information for 2025-2026 (institution and major) and a list of student activities. Student’s academic records (GPA/SAT) and 2025-2026 FAFSA will be requested and collected during the review process.
Award: 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 awarded per academic year.
Apply today by creating your online application at: DHEO Student Account Homepage
Scholarship for Students with Financial Need
Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Deadline: Submit the scholarship application by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025. Applicant must file the 2025-2026 FAFSA before May 15, 2025.
Eligibility: Delaware residents who meet one of the following enrollment criteria:
- High school seniors and/or undergraduate students enrolled full time at an accredited Delaware institution
- Undergraduate students enrolled in an out-of-state accredited institution in a degree program that is not offered at University of Delaware, Delaware State University or Delaware Technical Community College.
- Graduate students enrolled in an out-of-state accredited institution in a degree program that is not offered at University of Delaware, Delaware State University or Delaware Technical Community College.
Application Requirements: The online application will request the student’s anticipated enrollment information (institution and major). Student’s 2025-2026 FAFSA will be requested and collected during the review process.
Award: $1,000 per academic year. Award is not renewable; students must reapply every year.
Apply today by creating your online application at: DHEO Student Account Homepage
Major-specific Scholarships at Delaware Colleges
Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Deadline: Submit the scholarship application by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025. Applicant must file the 2025-2026 FAFSA before May 15, 2025.
Eligibility: Delaware residents enrolled full time in a bachelor’s degree program in a Delaware public or private college. Students must be enrolled in a major leading to a career in a high-need field in Delaware.
The Delaware Higher Education Office and the Delaware Department of Labor will review employment trends in Delaware and update the high-need career fields list every five years. Eligible majors for the 2025-2026 school year are:
- Accounting
- Business
- Computer engineering
- Computer science
- Finance
- Human resources
- Information technology
- Management
- Nursing
- Operations management
Application Requirements: The online application will request the student’s anticipated enrollment information (institution and major). Student’s 2025-2026 FAFSA will be requested and collected during the review process.
Award: $5,000 per academic year. Award is not renewable; students can reapply each year. Preference will be given to former recipients who continue to meet eligibility criteria.
Apply today by creating your online application at: DHEO Student Account Homepage
Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Deadline: Submit the scholarship application by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025. Applicant must file the 2025-2026 FAFSA before May 15, 2025.
Eligibility: Delaware residents enrolled full time in a bachelor’s degree program in a Delaware public or private college. Students must be enrolled in a major leading to a career in education in high-need teaching areas and education specialist areas.
Teacher shortage areas are:
- Agriscience education
- Business education
- Bilingual/world languages
- English language learner
- English
- Family consumer science
- Immersion (elementary/world language)
- Library media specialist
- Math
- Science
- Special education (all areas)
- Technology education
Specialist areas:
- Speech language pathologists
- School social workers
Application Requirements: The online application will request the student’s anticipated enrollment information (institution and major). Student’s 2025-2026 FAFSA will be requested and collected during the review process.
Award: $5,000 per academic year. Award is not renewable; students can reapply each year. Preference will be given to former recipients who continue to meet eligibility criteria.
Apply today by creating your online application at: DHEO Student Account Homepage
Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Deadline: Submit the scholarship application by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025. Applicant must file the 2025-2026 FAFSA before May 15, 2025.
Eligibility: Delaware residents enrolled full time in a graduate degree program in a Delaware public or private college. Students must be enrolled in a major leading to a career in education in high-need teaching areas and education specialist areas.
Teacher shortage areas are:
- Agriscience education
- Business education
- Bilingual/world languages
- English language learner
- English
- Family consumer science
- Immersion (elementary/world language)
- Library media specialist
- Math
- Science
- School nurse
- Special education (all areas)
- Technology education
High-need specialist areas:
- School counselors
- School psychologists
- School social workers
- Speech language pathologists
Application Requirements: The online application will request the student’s anticipated enrollment information (institution and major). Student’s 2025-2026 FAFSA will be requested and collected during the review process.
Award: $5,000 per academic year. Award is not renewable; students can reapply each year. Preference will be given to former recipients who continue to meet eligibility criteria.
Apply today by creating your online application at: DHEO Student Account Homepage
Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others
Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Deadline: Submit the scholarship application by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025. Applicant must file the 2025-2026 FAFSA before May 15, 2025.
Eligibility: Must be age 16 to 24 and a resident of Delaware for three or more consecutive years before the application date. If applicant’s parent was a member of the armed forces, the parent must have been a resident of Delaware at the time of death or declaration of missing in action or prisoner of war. Must be the child of one of the following:
- Member of the armed forces whose death was service-related; who is being held or was held as a prisoner of war; or who is officially declared missing in action.
- State police officer whose death was service-related.
- State Department of Transportation employee routinely employed in job-related activities on the state highway system whose death was job-related.
Application Requirements: The online application will request the student’s anticipated enrollment information (institution and major). Additional information and the student’s 2025-2026 FAFSA will be requested and collected during the review process.
Award: Up to four years; award amount not to exceed tuition and fees per academic year at a Delaware public college or a Delaware private college, if applicant’s program of study is unavailable at a Delaware public college; or an out-of-state public or private college, if no institution in Delaware offers the program of study. Prorated for eligible students who choose to attend an institution that is out of this sequence.
Apply today by creating your online application at: DHEO Student Account Homepage
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: 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: 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
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. a
- 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.
Students can submit an ACM application once they have been accepted into an eligible degree program. Students who remain continuously enrolled in the same program at the same school, make satisfactory academic progress and retain Delaware residency do not have to reapply each year. Institutional requirements to retain ACM status may include full-time enrollment and maintaining a minimum GPA.
To apply or for more information: 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
