Wilmington University
New Castle, Delaware · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wilmington University scores 51 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale - a private nonprofit in New Castle, DE with 7,906 enrolled students and a $12,630 tuition discounted to a $15,644 net price. The score reflects a 10.8-year payback period, a 30.1% earnings premium, a 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio, and a repayment rate of 57.5% at 3 years. The institution's completion rate is 19.8%. Fewer than 1 in 5 enrolled students completes a degree, which means that the median earnings and debt figures describe a fraction of the student body while the majority accumulate debt without a credential. At $15,644 net price with no admission rate or test score data reported, Wilmington appears to function as a broadly accessible, working-adult-serving institution. The program portfolio spans nursing, IT, business, and education, with Registered Nursing (137 grads, $86,703 year-one, grade B+) as the clear standout. Most programs earn C or C+ grades. The admission rate is not reported by the Scorecard.
How Wilmington University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate19.8% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Wilmington University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,630/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,630/yr |
| Average net price | $15,644/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $62,576 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,844 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $212 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 19.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,906 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,630/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $15,644/year, or roughly $62,576 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,500/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,000, which works out to about $212 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,800) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,500 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,920 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,623 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,644 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $15,500 per year at Wilmington - surprisingly close to the institutional average net price for a low-income bracket, indicating limited need-based aid concentration. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $15,920. For low-income students, Wilmington's low sticker price and open access are appealing, but the 19.8% completion rate is a severe financial risk at any net price. A student who enrolls, borrows $20,000, and never completes is left with debt but no earnings benefit. Low-income students should treat completion as the critical variable, not cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,623 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $19,644. The aid schedule is nearly flat across all income brackets - Wilmington's net price varies by only about $4,000 from the lowest to the upper-middle bracket. This uniformity suggests the institution relies primarily on its low sticker tuition rather than need-based aid packaging. For middle-income families, $16,000-$20,000 per year for a private nonprofit institution with these outcomes is a borderline proposition. Nursing and IT programs offer reasonable value at this price; general education and liberal arts programs do not.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The Scorecard does not report a net price figure for families above $110,000 at Wilmington. Families above this threshold should contact the institution directly. The financial concern at full pay is not cost but outcomes: $40,800 average 6-year earnings against a 19.8% completion rate.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Wilmington University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $97,666 | B+ |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $65,064 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,899 | C |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $81,537 | B |
| Psychology | $50,669 | C |
| Human Resources Management | $65,781 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,493 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $50,589 | C+ |
| Accounting | $59,954 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $52,547 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Wilmington's strongest program by a wide margin: 137 graduates, $86,703 year-one, $97,666 at year four, grade B+ on $23,333 median debt. Year-one earnings of $86,703 in the Delaware and greater Philadelphia metro reflect registered nurse wages that are competitive regionally. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.269 is the institution's best - graduates owe roughly 3 months of annual earnings. For students who can complete the nursing program, Wilmington delivers a cost-effective nursing credential at a $15,644 net price.
Computer/Information Technology Administration
Computer/Information Technology Administration produces 121 confirmed graduates at $56,597 year-one and $81,537 at year four, grade B on $25,250 median debt. The four-year earnings trajectory to $81,537 is strong, indicating that Wilmington IT graduates are finding career progression in Delaware's corporate and financial services employer base. At a 0.446 debt-to-earnings ratio and $15,644 net price, the program delivers reasonable value for students pursuing applied IT credentials at low cost. IT Administration is the second-largest graded program by graduate count and the second-best outcome in the portfolio.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 125 confirmed graduates at $44,876 year-one and $66,899 at year four, grade C on $26,978 median debt. The C grade reflects a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.601 - graduates owe about 7 months of annual pre-tax income. The four-year trajectory to $66,899 shows meaningful growth. Business is Wilmington's most common confirmed-graduate program; its outcome is adequate but not strong. Students who need business credentials at low cost and can complete the degree are better positioned than the institutional average suggests.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 52.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 57.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 47.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Wilmington University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 7,906 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,179 |
Wilmington does not report an admission rate or standardized test score ranges to the Scorecard. The institution appears to operate as broadly open-enrollment, consistent with its working-adult and professional audience. Program-specific requirements - particularly for nursing and health programs - may include prerequisite coursework, clinical placement requirements, and background checks that operate as de facto admission screens even without reported academic thresholds.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Wilmington's ROI is 51 and its completion rate is 19.8%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington University (this school) | 51 | $15,644 | $53,844 |
| Goldey-Beacom College | 69 | $15,554 | $59,892 |
| California Baptist University | 53 | $26,285 | $61,504 |
| Nova Southeastern University | 53 | $30,371 | $59,209 |
| Belmont University | 52 | $33,147 | $55,930 |
| The University of Tampa | 49 | $36,211 | $59,436 |
Who Thrives Here
Wilmington University does not report an admission rate or standardized test score ranges. With 7,906 enrolled students and a 26.1% Pell grant rate, Wilmington serves a large, broadly mixed-income student body that skews toward working adults, career changers, and students seeking low-cost professional credentials in Delaware and the surrounding region. The institution's low completion rate of 19.8% is the defining risk factor for prospective students. Students who enroll, stop-out, and never complete face debt without the earnings benefit. Students considering Wilmington should have a specific, focused program goal - nursing in particular offers a clear path to strong outcomes - and a realistic plan for completing the credential.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Wilmington University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $15,644 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $53,844 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 19.8% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 57.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $20,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Wilmington University: Common Questions
Is Wilmington University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Wilmington University scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $15,644 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $53,844 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Wilmington University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,644 a year, or roughly $62,576 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Wilmington University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,844 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,044 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Wilmington University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.8 years for Wilmington University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Wilmington University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,000, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Wilmington University?
The six-year graduation rate is 19.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.