University of Delaware

Newark, DE · founded 1743 · 24,500 students · public research university · Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)

Known for: The oldest university in the United States with a study abroad program, it is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant, and urban-grant institution particularly renowned for its chemical engineering, business, and agriculture programs.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #76
QS World: #531
Times Higher Education: #301
ARWU Shanghai: #201
Forbes: #126

Top programmes

Chemical Engineering
Business
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Education
Physical Therapy
Marine Science

Notable alumni

Joe Biden — 46th President of the United States
Chris Christie — Former Governor of New Jersey
Jill Biden — First Lady of the United States, educator
Aubrey Plaza — Actress ('Parks and Recreation')
John M. Fabian — NASA astronaut
Reginald F. Lewis — First African American to build a billion-dollar company, TLC Beatrice
Paul Goldschmidt — Major League Baseball MVP
Elena Delle Donne — WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist

Traditions

The 'Delaware Fight Song'
Founders Day
UDance (student-run dance marathon for pediatric cancer)
Homecoming Parade

If University of Delaware were…

As a food: Delaware-style chicken — Like this regional specialty that combines traditional preparation with modern twists, UD balances historic campus traditions with cutting-edge research in a distinctive local flavor.
As an athlete: Joe Flacco — Like the Super Bowl MVP quarterback who delivered under pressure without flashy theatrics, UD produces reliable professionals who excel in chemical engineering and business fields.
As a person alive today: Aubrey Plaza — Like the Delaware-native actress known for her deadpan humor masking sharp intelligence, UD maintains an unassuming exterior while housing world-class research facilities and Nobel laureates.
As a historical figure: John Dickinson — Like the 'Penman of the Revolution' who preferred practical compromise over radical posturing, UD emphasizes applied research and professional preparation over theoretical grandstanding.
As a movie or TV show: The Americans — Like the Cold War drama about undercover agents maintaining normal appearances while pursuing high-stakes missions, UD's suburban campus belies its significant defense research and intelligence community recruitment.
As a US president: Joe Biden — Like the Delaware-native president known for long government service and Amtrak commuting, UD embodies the steady, accessible public institution serving both local students and national interests.
As a city: Philadelphia — Like the city that balances historic landmarks with modern medical research and corporate HQs, UD mixes colonial-era buildings with state-of-the-art labs while serving as Delaware's intellectual and economic engine.
As an element: Titanium — Like titanium—strong yet lightweight, resistant to corrosion, and essential in aerospace—UD combines academic strength with practical resilience, producing graduates who excel in demanding engineering and corporate envir
As a car: 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat — Delaware's pre-professional Greek life meets Mid-Atlantic pragmatism—a truck that's equally comfortable at a tailgate or a business casual internship, popular enough to blend in, nice enough to impress parents. It's the

Campus life

UD offers a traditional college experience with a strong Greek life presence (over 20% of students), spirited athletics, and a beautiful, walkable campus. Newark is a vibrant college town with Main Street offering shops and restaurants close to campus.

The film, scored

This profile answers “if University of Delaware were a movie or TV show?” with The Americans (2013). Like the Cold War drama about undercover agents maintaining normal appearances while pursuing high-stakes missions, UD's suburban campus belies its significant defense research and intelligence community recruitment. It sits in the 91st percentile on rankquant, which re-centres every critic score on the reviewer who gave it, so a percentile means position against peers rather than a raw star average. The full film & TV catalogue ranks the rest the same way.