Is Delaware State University safe?
Dover, Delaware · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Delaware State University as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Delaware State University
“Go with care. The Delaware State University campus is generally safe and well-monitored by campus security, but surrounding commercial strips along DuPont Highway require standard awareness after dark. Stick to well-lit campus grounds, main public facilities, and official event venues.”
Campus and municipal authorities have coordinated enhanced patrols along the Route 13 corridor following periodic off-campus disturbance and firearm-related calls in surrounding commercial parking lots.
About the area
Delaware State University encompasses an active historically Black university campus located along Dover's primary commercial artery, Route 13. The area features a mix of historic collegiate buildings, athletic facilities, and adjacent suburban shopping centers. Visitors are mostly drawn here for university athletic events, cultural programs, and academic visits.
- College Campus
- Car-Dependent Corridor
- Commercial Strip
- Suburban
Walking and biking in Delaware State University
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no municipal bike-share program, but internal campus paths accommodate cycling, connecting loosely toward the Capital Ring Trail network via Dover secondary roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Dedicated 24/7 campus police department and emergency call-box network across grounds
- High health insurance coverage and modern digital infrastructure across the campus zone
- Direct vehicle access to Dover's main retail and dining corridors along US-13
Cons
- High localized poverty rate driven by the large undergraduate student population
- Elevated property crime and vehicle break-in risk in adjacent commercial parking plazas
- High-speed arterial traffic along DuPont Highway creates safety challenges for pedestrians
Homelessness: Visible homelessness on campus itself is rare due to university security patrols, though occasional panhandling is observed at bus stops and retail centers along the adjacent Route 13 commercial strip.
What Delaware State University is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active with arriving students, faculty, and maintenance staff, feeling very safe on campus pathways.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Bustling with classes and campus life; safe to walk within the university perimeter.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet on central campus lawns with activity shifting toward dining halls and athletic facilities; standard caution recommended near perimeter streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Campus remains patrolled but pedestrian traffic drops sharply; avoid isolated lots and walk with others if crossing off-campus commercial areas.
Transit, parking and getting around
DART First State operates local bus routes, including Routes 101, 102, and 109, which serve stops directly along DuPont Highway and the campus perimeter. There is no passenger rail service in Dover.
Visitors must obtain a campus visitor parking pass to park in designated university lots during business hours. Surrounding shopping plazas have ample free surface parking for customers.
Things to do in Delaware State University
- Attend a Hornets football game or track meet at Alumni Stadium
- Visit the Arts Center Gallery inside the William C. Jason Library for rotating cultural exhibits
- Explore the historic Loockerman Hall, an 18th-century landmark on the university grounds
Local favorites
- Where Pigs Fly Restaurant · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.4★ (1650)Popular local smokehouse serving ribs, brisket, and classic Southern sides just north of campus.
- Countrie Eatery · Diner · 4.5★ (1280)Longstanding breakfast and lunch staple offering hearty homestyle platters and baked goods.
- Flavor of India · Indian Restaurant · 4.3★ (610)Reliable spot along Route 13 serving traditional curries, tandoori dishes, and lunch specials.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.