Home > News > DSU Hits New Enrollment Record -- 6,623 Total Students!!!
With its record enrollment of 6,623, the University welcomed its largest incoming class ever -- 1,900 freshmen and transfer students -- affirming its status as one of the top HBCUs in the country.
In this photo: With its record enrollment of 6,623, the University welcomed its largest incoming class ever – 1,900 freshmen and transfer students – affirming its status as one of the top HBCUs in the country.
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DSU Hits New Enrollment Record – 6,623 Total Students!!!

Thursday, November 20, 2025

On Nov. 20, Delaware State University announced official Fall 2025 enrollment of 6,623 students, a 31.7 percent increase in enrollment since 2020, bucking broader trends in higher education.  

Delaware State University also welcomed its largest incoming class this fall, with more than 1,900 freshmen and transfer students joining the University.  

The University’s student body now hails from 41 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. And more than 75 percent of incoming Delaware State University’s freshmen are Inspire scholars, with a collective GPA of 3.43. 

“This is the largest student body ever at Delaware State University and the largest class of incoming Delaware Inspire scholars since the creation of the program 15 years ago,” said Dr. Patrice Gilliam, Provost, Delaware State University. “And most importantly, our students have come ready to do the demanding work needed to make a difference in their chosen field – from public health and commercial aviation to business and finance. Speaking for all the faculty and staff at Delaware State University, we stand ready to help all our students get across the finish line, get their education, and meet their fullest potential.”  

“We saw unprecedented interest in the University this year, with more than 20,000 applications from across the country,” said Dr. Kareem McLemore, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment at Delaware State University. “The increases in enrollment also reflect our growing physical presence in Delaware, and our reach around the country and the world. We have significantly expanded online learning, dual enrollment programs, and international partnerships to meet students where they are ready to get their education. Now we’re ready to help those students succeed.”  Sydney Brown says that DSU has given her the platform to lead.

The University’s record enrollment has been driven primarily by increased student demand in Delaware State University’s flagship programs on main campus and DSU Downtown, including health care, education, and business majors.  

Additionally, the state-sponsored Inspire program - a fully funded state scholarship for Delaware students with a 2.75 GPA and commitment to public service - has helped make Delaware State University a top choice for in-state students.  

“Delaware State University didn’t just give me a place to learn—it gave me a platform to lead,” said Sydney Brown, a senior computer science major and Student Government Vice President. “DSU believed in both my story and my potential, and that support has shaped my confidence as a technologist and as a campus leader.” 

“Delaware State University, and especially the Aviation program and department, is basically my second home,” said Marian Drazan, a junior international student from the Czech Republic who is training to become a commercial pilot. “Flying has always been my dream, and DSU made it come true, which I am very grateful for.” Marian Drazan, an Aviation student from the Czech Republic, says DSU is his second home.

“What DSU has offered me goes far beyond the classroom,” said Kennedy Dease, a senior biological and forensic sciences double major. “Being surrounded by peers and mentors who push me, challenge me, and look like me has elevated the standard I set for myself, academically and personally.” 

“From day one, DSU felt like more than a campus — it felt like a community striving for excellence together,” said Jayden Smith, a freshman majoring in business and marketing. “I wanted to be in a place where people uplift one another and where being a scholar is part of the culture. That’s exactly what I found here.”