One of the strongest east coast Division III programs is set to announce some big news later today.
According to a number of reports, starting with the Delaware Business Times, Delaware State is set to sign a definitive agreement to acquire Wesley College (D-III - DE). A press conference has been called for later today.
Enrollment at Wesley has dropped considerably since 2013 from 1,600 enrolled undergrads to just over 1,000 in 2019 and the school has faced significant financial challenges as of recent.
The article points out that the acquisition would "turbo-charge DSU's growth plans," and would be able to retain the Wesley students at a lower tuition price.
"Sources familiar with the deal say the university, which has just over 5,000 students believes it can retain the 900 to 1,000 Wesley students who will pay just over $27,000 for the 2020-21 school year, compared with DSU’s published tuition and fees of $8,258 for in-state students and $17,294 for out-of-state students."
For years, Wesley has been considered one of the best Division III programs on the east coast. A member of the Atlantic East Conference, the program notched a 10-2 record last season and is annually ranked among the top 25 programs in the country, often cracking the top 10.
There's no clarity on what this will mean for Wesley football at this point, but typically when one college acquires another there's some small changes but things like athletics largely remain the same.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.