Delaware's Competitive Edge

HIGHER EDUCATION IS OUR STATE'S ENGINE FOR GROWTH

BY NICOLAS JAFARIEH

In Delaware, we know that talent is our most valuable resource, and we know where that talent is forged — in our colleges, our universities, and our technical institutions. Higher education isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s a public good. It’s the engine that powers our economy, strengthens our communities, and unlocks opportunity for every Delawarean.

While Delaware may be small, our higher education system delivers outsized results — generating billions in economic activity, supporting tens of thousands of jobs, and supplying the workforce that drives our most vital industries: financial services, biotech, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. When higher education is strong, Delaware is unstoppable.

Our institutions are the backbone of this success. The University of Delaware leads global research and innovation in a number of fields. Delaware State University, one of the nation’s premier HBCUs, expands access and delivers transformative outcomes for students. Wilmington University and Delaware Technical Community College prepare graduates for high-demand careers in health care, IT, and beyond, equipping Delaware businesses with the skilled talent they need to grow and compete.

But the value of higher education goes far beyond economics; it’s about empowerment. It’s about giving individuals the tools to shape their own futures, to rise above circumstance, and to contribute meaningfully to society. A college degree doesn’t just open doors professionally; it builds confidence, cultivates leadership, and fosters civic engagement. It creates ripple effects that strengthen families, neighborhoods, and entire communities. And that empowerment is strongest when students can complete their education, which is why Delaware’s institutions and business leaders — including partners like Sallie Mae — are working together to help students not only access higher education, but finish strong.

The data is clear: Bachelor’s degree holders earn nearly 70% more than those with only a high school diploma. And in Delaware, that return is amplified by our close-knit ecosystem. Graduates here don’t just earn — they lead. They innovate. They give back. They become the mentors, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who keep our state moving forward.

What makes Delaware truly special is our collaborative spirit. We’re a state where schools, employers, policymakers, and business leaders work together. That alignment keeps our education system responsive to labor market needs and creates clear pathways from classroom to career. It’s a model other states envy, and it’s one we must continue to champion.

Now is the time to invest even more boldly, to ensure every student has access to education that unlocks opportunity, to strengthen the partnerships that keep our economy thriving, and to prepare the next generation with the skills to succeed, the confidence to lead, and the vision to shape what comes next.

Delaware’s future is bright because our commitment to higher education is strong. Let’s keep building. Let’s keep leading. Let’s keep proving that, in Delaware, talent wins.

Nicolas Jafarieh is the executive vice president of Sallie Mae.