Head-to-head comparison
Delaware State University vs Goldey-Beacom College: which has better ROI?
Option A Dover, DE
Delaware State University
- Net price / year
- $13,910
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,307
- Payback
- 58.8 yrs
Option B Wilmington, DE
Goldey-Beacom College
- Net price / year
- $15,554
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,892
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Goldey-Beacom College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,216 in 5.4 years versus 58.8 years at Delaware State University, on median earnings of $59,892 vs $49,307 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Delaware State University | Goldey-Beacom College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,910 | $15,554 |
| Total net cost | $55,640 | $62,216 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,307 | $59,892 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $18,900 |
| Payback | 58.8 yrs | 5.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$36,700 | $168,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Delaware State University or Goldey-Beacom College?
Delaware State University, at $13,910 a year after aid versus $15,554 — a gap of $1,644 a year, or $6,576 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Delaware State University or Goldey-Beacom College graduates earn more?
Goldey-Beacom College graduates report a median $59,892 ten years after entry, $10,585 more than the $49,307 at Delaware State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Delaware State University or Goldey-Beacom College?
Goldey-Beacom College: its completers carry a median $18,900 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Delaware State University, a difference of $7,100. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Goldey-Beacom College, against 39% at Delaware State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.