Head-to-head comparison
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry vs Wilmington 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 New Castle, DE
Wilmington University
- Net price / year
- $15,644
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,844
- Payback
- 11.4 yrs
Wilmington University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,576 in 11.4 years versus not at all at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry, on median earnings of $53,844 vs $41,448 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | Wilmington University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,578 | $15,644 |
| Total net cost | $23,156 | $62,576 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,448 | $53,844 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $20,000 |
| Payback | — | 11.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$161,396 | $47,104 |
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 Wilmington University?
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry, at $11,578 a year after aid versus $15,644 — a gap of $4,066 a year, or $39,420 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 Wilmington University graduates earn more?
Wilmington University graduates report a median $53,844 ten years after entry, $12,396 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 Wilmington University?
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Wilmington University, a difference of $9,500. 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?
22% of students finish at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry, against 20% at Wilmington 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.