What a friend would tell you
What Stetson is looking for
Stetson tracks demonstrated interest, so campus visits and event attendance matter. Music school applicants compete on audition quality; business and pre-law students should know specific programs like the Roland George Investments Program (students manage a portfolio) or the pre-law advising track. Show that you chose DeLand intentionally. Merit scholarships are generous and worth negotiating.
What students wish they'd known
DeLand is a small town (pop. 35,000) without much nightlife or cultural scene beyond campus. Orlando is close but requires a car. The Baptist affiliation is mostly cultural, but dry-campus policies shape social life more than students expect. Greek life (30%) drives weekend activity. Stetson's national reputation is limited; the name carries weight in Florida but less so beyond the state line.
Stetson might be a fit if...
- You want a small-school experience with D1 athletics energy in a warm, low-cost Florida setting
- You're targeting Stetson's music conservatory, Roland George investment program, or pre-law advising specifically
- You prefer a campus where professors know you by name and class sizes rarely exceed 25
Stetson Admissions Strategy
1.6x
Early Decision Advantage
Early Decision admits at 1.6x the RD rate. The trade: ED is binding. Apply only if you'd say yes on the spot.
Early Decision: the numbers
Stetson's Early Decision acceptance rate is 95.4% vs 60% overall. ED is binding. If you are admitted, you are committing to enroll. This signals strong commitment and gives a meaningful admissions advantage.
Deadlines: ED November 1 · RD January 15
Deadlines: ED November 1 · RD January 15
Test Policy
Test-optional
You choose whether to send scores. A strong score helps your case; a weak one is better left off.
Demonstrated Interest
Not Tracked
Not tracked. Skip the info-session circuit and put those hours into the application itself.
Interview
Recommended
Yield Rate
35%
Only 35% of admits choose to enroll. The waitlist moves more than you'd think; if you land on it, make your interest loud.
Want the strongest possible application to Stetson, plus better odds and merit offers everywhere else you apply?
Join the free one-hour workshop from two Harvard grads who have helped 3,000+ students get in. Parents welcome.
Cost & Financial Aid at Stetson
$62,000
Sticker Price
$21,000
Avg Merit Aid
Need-aware admissions. Meets need: Partial. 84% receive financial aid.
For context: Stetson spends about $14,500 per student per year on instruction and student resources, right around the $15K national average.
What Stetson Graduates Get
$46,000
Avg Starting Salary
93%
Employed or in Grad School
56%
Graduate in 4 Years
The 4-year number is the on-time rate; the 6-year rate (62%) is the one schools usually advertise. A wide gap means many students pay for extra semesters.
Stetson Campus & Culture
The Campus
Stetson's 175-acre campus in DeLand, Florida is defined by live oaks draped in Spanish moss and a mix of Victorian, Mediterranean Revival, and modern buildings. Elizabeth Hall, with its dome and bell tower, is the signature structure. Hollis Center houses the music school. The campus is flat, walkable, and green year-round, set in a small Florida downtown with local shops and restaurants within blocks. Orlando's theme parks and airports are 35 minutes east.
The Social Scene
DeLand charm, Orlando proximity, performing arts culture
Stetson Traditions & Trivia
Late Night Breakfast
On the last day of class each semester, faculty and staff serve a themed breakfast dinner to students in Lynn Dining Commons to send them into finals.
Academics at Stetson
What Stetson is known for
Business and music school, music program excellence, DeLand location
Most popular majors at Stetson
Standout programs
Business, music, accounting, finance
How the curriculum works
Business and liberal arts cores with conservatory integration
Recommended high school courses
4 English, 3 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language
Notable Stetson Alumni
John B. Stetson Jr.
Son of the hat magnate and major benefactor, early graduate
Haywood Sullivan
MLB player and part-owner of the Boston Red Sox, Stetson baseball
Bobby Bowden
Legendary Florida State football coach with Stetson historical connection
Ira Sankey
Gospel singer and hymn writer of the late 1800s, connected to Stetson's early history
If you like Stetson, also consider
Rollins College
nearby Florida LAC with slightly higher selectivity and Winter Park charm
Eckerd College
waterfront Florida LAC with marine science focus
Elon University
rising Southern private with similar size and spirit in North Carolina
University of Tampa (not in DB)
larger Florida private with more urban setting
Furman University
stronger-ranked Southern LAC in Greenville, South Carolina