At $8,033/yr net price, Delaware Technical Community College-Terry graduates earn $41,448/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $7,448/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $8,033 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $32,132 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $41,448/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$7,448/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 19.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,270/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,871/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,048/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,987/yr |
| $110,001+ | $11,255/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $61,051 | $11,576 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $54,331 | $12,576 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Associate | $49,729 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $45,794 | $8,000 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $38,289 | $13,743 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $37,208 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Associate | $33,565 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Associate | $31,852 | $7,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $30,409 | $11,875 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Associate | $28,212 | $7,218 |
The Risk Factor
19.5% of students at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry gives you a low-cost, low-debt path with a modest payoff. You leave with less debt than most public college graduates carry, and the annual price sits well below the sticker cost of a typical four-year school. That keeps your downside small, which matters because the median earnings ten years out land in the low $40,000s. This is a school where the value comes from spending little, not from earning a lot.
The graduation rate is the number that should worry you most. Fewer than one in five students finish, and that gap is the biggest financial risk here. If you borrow, start, and stop, you carry debt without the credential that pays it back. The low debt figures only stay low if you actually finish, so treat completion as the whole game.
No bachelor-level program earnings are listed for this campus, so treat any specific major's payoff as unknown going in. Ask the department directly about job placement and starting pay in your field before you commit, especially since the median outcome is modest.
The net price barely moves across income levels. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay only about $4,000 less per year than a family earning over $110,000. That flat structure means lower-income families get less of a break than they would at schools with steep sliding-scale aid, but the absolute cost stays affordable at every tier.
This school fits you if you want a cheap, close-to-home credential in Dover and you are confident you will finish. Look elsewhere if you need strong earnings to justify the cost, or if you have doubts about completing, because the low graduation rate turns even small debt into a bad bet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Delaware Technical Community College-Terry worth the cost?
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry offers decent value for nursing programs, with registered nursing graduates earning $61,051 annually. However, the 19.5% graduation rate is concerning and means most students don't finish their programs.
What are the best paying programs at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry?
Registered nursing tops the list at $61,051 per year, followed by allied health diagnostic programs at $54,331. Dental support services graduates earn $49,729, making healthcare programs the clear winners for ROI.
How much debt do Delaware Technical Community College-Terry graduates typically have?
The median debt is $10,500, which is manageable for successful nursing graduates but problematic given the low 19.5% graduation rate. Students who don't complete programs still carry debt without the credentials to pay it off.
Should I attend Delaware Technical Community College-Terry for non-nursing programs?
Non-nursing programs show weaker returns, with allied health assistants earning $45,794 and practical nursing at $38,289. Combined with the low graduation rate, these programs present higher financial risk for the investment.