How Delaware college aid works
If you live in Delaware, the state runs its own college aid on top of federal aid. The one to know is the Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP), run by the Delaware Higher Education Office. Here is what it is, who qualifies, when to apply, and how it fits with the FAFSA.
Delaware's state aid program
Delaware's flagship state aid is the Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP), administered by the Delaware Higher Education Office.
How to apply for Delaware grants and aid
FAFSA + state application in spring.
The FAFSA is the master form. Filing it early puts a student in line for federal Pell grants and work-study, and it starts most state and college aid too. Some state funds are first come, first served, so it is safer to file the week the FAFSA opens than to wait.
Lowering out-of-state tuition
As a Delaware resident, you may also qualify for the Academic Common Market (SREB): In-state rates in southern states for approved majors your home state's public colleges don't offer. Participation varies by campus and major, so check the official program list.
See Delaware's aid in your plan, free
Add these Delaware programs to a personalized plan that also finds the national grants and scholarships a student qualifies for, with every deadline in one place. No account, no ads, and nothing you enter is ever sent to us.
Build my free Delaware planNot starting today? Take the deadlines with you.
Leave an email and I will send the FAFSA and aid dates that actually matter this school year, starting with the printable FAFSA night handout. The 2027-28 FAFSA opens by October 1, 2026.
This is a mailing list, not an account. It holds your email and nothing else. Nothing a student enters into the guide is ever sent to us, and this address is never connected to it. One-click unsubscribe on every email, and it is never sold.
Common questions about Delaware college aid
What is Delaware's main state financial aid program?
Delaware's flagship state aid is the Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP), administered by the Delaware Higher Education Office.
When do you apply for Delaware college aid?
FAFSA + state application in spring. Exact dates shift every year, so confirm the current cycle on the Delaware Higher Education Office site before you file.
Do you need the FAFSA for Delaware state aid?
Yes. Filing the FAFSA (or your state's alternative application) is what starts your Delaware state grant, and it also unlocks federal Pell grants and work-study. File it as early as you can.
State aid details verified as of September 4, 2026. Dates shift each cycle, so always confirm the current deadline on the official Delaware Higher Education Office site.