Head-to-head comparison
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry vs Delaware State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Dover, DE
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry
- Net price / year
- $11,578
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,448
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Dover, DE
Delaware State University
- Net price / year
- $13,910
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,307
- Payback
- 58.8 yrs
Delaware State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $55,640 in 58.8 years versus not at all at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry, on median earnings of $49,307 vs $41,448 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | Delaware State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,578 | $13,910 |
| Total net cost | $23,156 | $55,640 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,448 | $49,307 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | 58.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$161,396 | -$36,700 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Delaware Technical Community College-Terry or Delaware State University?
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry, at $11,578 a year after aid versus $13,910 — a gap of $2,332 a year, or $32,484 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 Technical Community College-Terry or Delaware State University graduates earn more?
Delaware State University graduates report a median $49,307 ten years after entry, $7,859 more than the $41,448 at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry. 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 Technical Community College-Terry or Delaware State University?
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Delaware State University, a difference of $15,500. 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?
39% of students finish at Delaware State University, against 22% at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry. 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.