About DSU

In much the same way that passports allow free travel to and from destinations around the world, DSU offers its students a “passport to life.” This passport will enable students to become contributing and productive members of society while gaining the confidence needed to take hold of opportunity, earn respect and build on their success. It all starts here, at DSU.

With a self-contained campus that feels like a small town unto itself, DSU sits on a historic plot of Delaware land that has grown with the times. What began as a 100-acre campus is now a picturesque 400-acre campus abuzz with growth that still takes pride in its older buildings such as Loockerman Hall, a restored national historic landmark from the 1700s.

Indeed, DSU is a unique mixture of the past, present and future. One can still unearth time capsules from nearly a century ago below buildings around campus. The Approaching Storm Marching Band belts out some of the latest popular tunes at sold-out football games in Alumni Stadium each fall. And some of the country’s most skilled researchers are discovering new innovations at DSU that have far-reaching future uses in the fields of medicine, military defense, agriculture and much more.

There’s a place and interest at DSU for students who know exactly what path they want to follow. We also offer students the chance to explore unchartered territory—to discover and uncover their hidden talents while learning from some of the best in their prospective fields.

Where will life take you? We invite you to begin your journey here at DSU—your passport to life.

Humble Beginnings and New Horizons

DSU has a long and proud history as one of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It has a blend of both long-standing traditions and growing diversity. Founded in 1891 as the State College for Colored Students, DSU takes pride in its heritage as one of the country’s first land-grant educational institutions, rooted early on in agriculture and education. Our current population includes a 67 percent African-American enrollment and an increasing number of Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian and other international students.

With a changing world comes a changing campus, and DSU prepares its students for the global challenges of the new millennium and beyond. The University is a welcome center for learning for people from many cultural backgrounds who speak several different languages and dialects. DSU is a melting pot for education, and after graduation—wherever life takes them—our students are truly “making their mark on the world.”

DSU’s focus on cutting-edge research, technology and business practices have brought the University into modernity and made it a member of the scientific, solution-seeking community. Today, it remains well in the vanguard of other four-year institutions throughout the region and country.

DSU currently offers 53 undergraduate degree options, an impressive number for a school of DSU’s size. It also offers 25 master’s degree programs and five doctoral degree programs in areas such as interdisciplinary applied mathematics/mathematical physics and educational leadership.

Choosing which college or university to attend is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in life. There are many things to consider, such as selecting the right academic program to suit your goals, finding comfort with the atmosphere on and around campus and knowing that faculty and staff will help you succeed.

Location, Location, Location

DSU is located in the historic city of Dover, the capital of Delaware, which has a geographical position at the center of the state. Its close proximity to the city of Philadelphia afforded Caesar Rodney a short horseback ride to sign the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution, the document that continues to protect our nation’s liberty, also declared Delaware as the “The First State” of the new Federal Union.

Arguably one of the best-kept secrets on the East Coast, Dover, with its current population of 35,810, provides a small-town flavor for students who want to learn without the hustle and bustle found on some city campuses. Dover’s short distance from other major cities, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC, makes it still feel close to metropolitan life.

Because it’s nestled in a small town, DSU is able to provide a comprehensive four-year education at a competitive cost and value compared to other schools in the region. The campus has many cultural and retail amenities, including Dover Mall across the street, the nearby Rehoboth/Ocean City beaches and outlet shopping.

Campus map and directions