Delaware State University
Delaware State is a proud HBCU in Dover, the state capital — a close, spirited campus with modern residence halls and Hornet pride everywhere. Coastal-plain weather keeps winters a touch milder, but you’ll still want the warm layers.
What to wear in Dover, month by month
This region runs from a humid late summer to a hard winter in about ten weeks. The mistake out-of-region families make is packing the whole year in August.
| Move-in (Aug) | 80–90°F | Hot, humid Delmarva late summer. The lightest clothes you own, and a fan. |
| Sept–Oct | 55–78°F | Warm early, easing into a mild coastal-plain fall. Light layers. |
| Nov–Dec | 38–54°F | Cool and damp with the odd cold snap. A real jacket, hat, gloves. |
| Jan–Feb | 28–45°F | Milder than inland, but raw and windy. A warm coat and boots. |
| Mar–May | 50–74°F | A quick warm-up into a humid spring. A jacket and layers. |
What Delaware State University lets you bring
- Small fridge up to 4 cu ft
- Fans, hair dryers, coffee makers with a lighted on/off switch
- Twin XL bedding (confirm your specific hall)
- UL/ETL power strip with a built-in circuit breaker — not a bare extension cord
- Damage-free wall hangings like Command strips — no nails or screws
- Low-draw LED desk and task lamps
- A fan, a reusable water bottle, and UL-listed electronics
- Open-coil / open-flame cooking: toasters, toaster ovens, air fryers, hot plates, electric grills, sandwich makers
- Candles, incense, wax warmers, and anything with an open flame
- Halogen lamps
- Extension cords without a breaker; outlet splitters and multi-plug adapters
- Space heaters and personal A/C units (unless your school provides/approves them)
- Hoverboards, e-scooters, e-bikes, and other e-mobility devices
- Weapons of any kind — including decorative — and fireworks
- Candles, incense, and other open-flame items
- Hot plates, toasters, and other open-element appliances
- Halogen lamps
These come from Delaware State University's official housing pages and cover the essentials plus the genuinely local rules. Double-check the current official guidance before you buy — policies and renovations change every year.
Getting your room at Delaware State University
- 01March 14
Housing opens for new students
New freshmen and transfer students can begin the housing process on the My Hornet Housing portal (StarRez) starting March 14, once admitted and enrolled.
- 02April 1–13
Priority windows, then renewals only
April 1–2 is priority registration for military-connected students, athletes, and Honors Program students; April 3–13 is reserved for returning students renewing their housing.
- 03April 14
General application opens
The general housing application opens to all remaining eligible students. Room and hall preferences are considered in the order applications come in, so applying early helps.
- 04On the portal
Pay the deposit, sign the contract
Pay the housing deposit — $200 for a traditional hall or $400 for suite/apartment-style housing — through TouchNet, then sign the housing and dining contract and list any roommate or hall preferences.
- 05Before move-in
Watch for your assignment and move-in slot
Room assignments and roommate info post to the housing portal over the summer, with a move-in day and time slot confirmed closer to late August.
Where you'll live at Delaware State University
First-year residence halls
New Hornets land in one of four first-year halls — traditional community-style rooms in Evers and Jenkins, or suite-style living in Warren-Franklin and the Honors-only Wynder Tower. All four have air conditioning, which matters more than you'd think this close to the Delaware Bay in late August. You apply and pay a housing deposit after admission, with priority windows for athletes, military-connected students, and Honors students ahead of the general pool.
A three-story coed hall of about 245 first-years in double rooms with shared floor bathrooms — plus a rec room, reading room, and an honest-to-goodness barber shop downstairs.
Jenkins mirrors Evers next door — coed doubles for roughly 244 first-years across three floors, with a kitchen, main lounge, and laundry room shared by the whole building.
The largest first-year hall, housing about 328 students in suite-style rooms (six to a bathroom) across two wings — a step up in privacy from the traditional halls, with its own lounge and kitchen.
A small, six-floor tower for about 86 first-year Honors Program students in suite-style rooms — connected to the upperclass Tubman-Laws complex and one of the more sought-after freshman assignments.
The Delaware State University move-in checklist
The “Shop” links are Amazon affiliate links — a purchase may earn AllDorms a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Bedding6
Bath5
Laundry4
Storage & organization6
Desk & study4
Electronics6
Cleaning5
Kitchen — within the rules5
Health & meds4
Clothing — see the seasonal guide7
Move-in day go-bag5
Dover logistics, sorted
How to send mail to a DSU student
[Residence Hall], Room [Room #]
1200 N. DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
Hornets, in red and Columbia blue
A historically Black university in the state capital
Dover & around
First State Heritage Park & The Green
Dover's historic downtown around the 1683 State House and the Green — museums, Legislative Hall, and Delaware's own small-capital version of a college town center.
Dover International Speedway
The 'Monster Mile' NASCAR track hosts race weekends twice a year that take over the whole city — worth checking the schedule if it lands near move-in.
Air Mobility Command Museum
A free museum of historic cargo and tanker aircraft next to Dover Air Force Base — a genuinely good rainy-day stop for a family visit.
Rehoboth & Lewes beaches
Delaware's ocean towns are a straight shot down Route 1 — boardwalk, beach, and outlet shopping when campus needs a break.
Where to stay near Delaware State University
Hampton Inn Dover
N. DuPont HwyA straightforward chain hotel about a mile from campus on the same DuPont Highway strip as move-in traffic — free breakfast, easy in-and-out.
Comfort Suites Dover University Area
N. DuPont HwyLiterally branded for the job — a short drive from DSU, Delaware Tech, and the Air Force base, with suites that fit a family better than a standard room.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Dover
N. DuPont HwyA reliable Marriott a mile up the highway from campus, near Dover Downs — a solid fallback when the closer options are booked.
Delaware State University gear & gifts
Delaware State University — links & contacts
- Housing & Residential Education: 302-857-6326
- Housing Email: housing@desu.edu