Stetson University

Stetson University is located in DeLand, Florida, which is about 25 minutes from Daytona (aka beaches) and an easy 45-minute drive from Orlando. The downtown area had quite a few little restaurants and shops and reminded me a bit of the small town where I went to college. Stetson has 2572 undergrads, and 2052 of them live on campus. 70% of their students are from Florida. As you might imagine, they have small class sizes with a 13:1 student to teacher ratio. The professors are really able to form close relationships with the students, and they have an open door policy. As we walked through the science building, you could see the professors right there working in their offices which are mixed in with the classrooms in the hall.

What surprised me is that Stetson has 18 division one sports teams, including their football team! (At the time of my tour, the football team was playing Princeton that upcoming weekend.) There is quite a bit of school spirit as students like to go out and support their teams. 30% of the students participate in Greek life, and my tour guide told me that the sorority houses are really nice places to live.

When it comes to academics, Stetson has a lot to offer. They were ranked the 4th best regional university in the south by U.S. News and World Report. They offer pre-law, pre-med, and pre-vet programs. Their business program is nationally ranked, and they have 100% job placement out of Stetson. All seniors are required to do a research project or recital if they are in the music program. Speaking of their music program, it is the most competitive one in the state! Students must audition. My tour guide told me she auditioned but choked. They didn’t admit her to the music school, but they did give her a scholarship to continue studying music. Their college of law is well known as they are ranked in the top 5 in the state for trial advocacy and legal writing. They offer a 3+3 law degree where students earn their bachelor’s degree in DeLand and finish at their law school in St. Petersburg. Their school of business is their second largest program and requires two internships (one of which can be study abroad). 50% of their students participate in study abroad opportunities.

As for scores… Stetson has been test optional for years. (I should have mentioned that Rollins has been test optional for 13 years). The average GPA for the incoming class was 3.89, the midrange SAT was 1140-1300, and the midrange ACT was 24-30. They are looking for upward trends in students' grades. If there isn’t an upward trend, students should include an essay explaining what happened. Stetson offers quite a few scholarships, and the average undergraduate financial aid package is $42,000. Go, Hatters!