Wilmington University

Wilmington University, or WilmU, is a US-based private institution with its main campus in New Castle, Delaware. The non-profit university came into existence in 1968 as Wilmington College by Donald E. Ross. It became Wilmington University in 2007. It describes itself as open-access, which means it serves both traditional students starting college and working adults who want to make progress in their careers. The focus is affordable, convenient, and flexible education, taught by faculty who possess extensive experience in the specializations they teach.

First off, the range of programs is wide. WilmU has 200+ degree and certificate programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, and it also runs a School of Law. These are spread across colleges and schools that cover — business, technology, education and liberal arts, nursing and health sciences, sciences and engineering, and social and behavioral sciences. On top of that, the college of professional and continuing education offers non-credit training. For the 2024–2025 term, Wilmington University conferred 1,703 undergraduate degrees, 2,106 graduate degrees, and 163 doctorates to its graduating class.

Next comes delivery, which is one of the university’s biggest strengths. More than 150 programs can be completed 100% online, and the university says it has been an online learning leader since 2007. The Online Learning Consortium has also given WilmU an Exemplary Endorsement for the administration of its online programs. For those who prefer classrooms, WilmU runs in-person courses at three Delaware locations: Brandywine, New Castle, and Dover. It also has affiliate sites in New Jersey that includes — Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, and Gloucester. Besides, it holds classes on two military bases, Dover Air Force Base and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Another point is its focus on degree completion. Students can transfer up to 90 credits, and credit can also be awarded for prior learning, professional licenses and certifications, standardized tests, military experience, and portfolio assessment. Admission is rolling, with several start times each year. In addition, about 70% of undergraduates are transfer students. According to Wilmington University, all students receive low, in-state tuition rates, and that it has been named a Military Friendly Gold Award School for 2026-2027.

When it comes to accreditation, WilmU is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This reaffirmed its status in March 2024. The university reports that all seven MSCHE standards were met with no requirements and no recommendations. Moreover, specific programs carry their own accreditation:

• Business programs: from International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
• Education programs: from Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
• Nursing program: from Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Nurse anesthesia programs: from Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

WilmU also supports students beyond the classroom. It offers career services, internships and co-op options, and 16 NCAA Division II athletic teams known as the Wildcats. There is the Center for Law, Justice and Society and the Restructuring Institute which also provide training for public safety and corporate restructuring careers.