Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
DeLand, Florida
86.4% Acceptance Rate
Stetson University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
86.4%Acceptance Rate
3.69Avg GPA
1208Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$69,807Annual Cost
$51,642Grad Salary
35.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
86.4%
Avg GPA
3.69
Avg SAT
1208
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1090–1290
ACT Middle 50%
23–29
Need-Based Aid
35.4% receive Pell
Stetson University is a private, selective liberal arts university in Florida known for its commitment to academic excellence, civic engagement, and social justice. With a focus on critical inquiry and student-faculty collaboration, the university provides a formative education that prepares students for lives of meaning and impact.
Stetson University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Stetson University is inclusive by design. 86.4% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 86.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.69 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.49 – 3.68
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.24
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Stetson University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Stetson University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 90 days left — Early Decision
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Stetson University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Decision
November 1
Early Action
November 15
Rolling
January 15
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Stetson University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Stetson University is 3.69. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.39 and 3.69? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.89–4.09.Stetson University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.69 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.49 – 3.68
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.29 – 3.48
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.28
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Private university in DeLand, FL (founded 1883) with regional campuses in Tampa, Gulfport, and Orlando; score-optional with a required writing sample (set prompts or a graded paper) and one recommendation; Common App accepted with supplemental forms.
- Deadlines for 2026-27: Early Decision Nov 1, non-binding Early Action Nov 15, rolling to Jan 15, with a December 1 scholarship/financial-aid priority date; merit scholarships are largely automatic on academic credentials and on-campus housing is guaranteed for three years.
- First Florida university to establish schools of Business, Music, and Law; the School of Music is conservatory-style (~200 students) and requires an audition separate from university admission; the AACSB-accredited business school sits in the top tier worldwide.
- Distinctive: the selective Bonner Program tying high-achieving students to sustained community service, the historic duPont-Ball Library (Florida's oldest federal depository), 18 NCAA Division I sports, and a DeLand location named "America's Best Main Street," ~45 minutes from Orlando.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Stetson University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Stetson University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Stetson University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Stetson University. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Stetson University Without SAT or ACT?
Stetson University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Stetson University Average SAT Score: 1208
Admitted students at Stetson University average a 1208 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1208 — Slightly Competitive
A 1208 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1290 SAT or 29 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Stetson University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1090? A retake is worth it at Stetson University. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 580 | 530 | 630 |
| SAT Reading | 610 | 560 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1208 | 1090 | 1290 |
A score under 1090 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1290+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Stetson University with a 1300 SAT?
At 1300, your SAT is squarely in Stetson University's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Stetson University ACT Requirements
Stetson University's admitted students average an ACT of 26.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 26 — Competitive
An average of 26 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 24 | 20 | 27 |
| ACT English | 25 | 21 | 29 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 23 | 29 |
Can I get into Stetson University with a 29 ACT?
At 29, you're in the top quarter of Stetson University's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Stetson University weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Stetson University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Stetson University takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Nail the Required Writing Sample - It Substitutes for Test Scores in Review
Stetson is score-optional and explicitly values "academic achievement, commitment to personal values, leadership, talent, character and initiative above standardized testing," which makes the required writing sample the centerpiece of a test-optional file. Stetson offers specific prompts - discuss a state, national, or global issue that matters to you; the one cause you'd fight for; or a time you fell short of expectations and its impact - and also accepts a graded paper. Choose the prompt that lets you demonstrate values and initiative (the exact traits Stetson names), and treat it as your primary lever if you withhold scores. A generic essay wastes the single biggest opportunity to show the character-driven fit Stetson selects for.
Apply by the December 1 Scholarship Priority Date and Use Early Action Strategically
Stetson runs Early Decision (Nov 1), non-binding Early Action (Nov 15), and rolling admission (Jan 15), but the money deadline is December 1 for full scholarship and financial-aid consideration - and merit awards are largely automatic on your academic credentials. Applying early also unlocks earlier class registration, move-in, and room selection, which matters because Stetson guarantees on-campus housing for three years and housing fills fast. The play: apply Early Action by mid-November to stay non-binding while capturing priority, submit the FAFSA immediately since some aid is first-come, and get the housing deposit in the moment you're admitted.
Audition Early for the Conservatory-Style School of Music - Florida's First
Stetson was the first university in Florida to establish schools of Business, Music, and Law, and its School of Music is a competitive, conservatory-style program (roughly 200 students) requiring an audition for admission - separate from general university admission. Prospective music majors should prepare repertoire to the program's standards, schedule the audition early in the cycle, and understand the intensive structure (semester recitals plus junior and senior recitals, a rigorous theory sequence). Because the audition gates entry and much of the music scholarship money, treat it as the true application. For business applicants, complete recommended quantitative prerequisites in high school, since finance and entrepreneurship tracks expect that preparation.
Position Yourself for the Bonner Program and Stetson's Service/Values Identity
Stetson pairs a strong service ethos with the selective Bonner Program, which matches high-achieving, service-committed students to sustained community work on issues like poverty and homelessness (typically with meaningful scholarship support). Applicants with a genuine, documented record of service should surface it prominently and align their writing sample with a cause, because this mirrors what Bonner and Stetson reward. Reinforce fit by naming Stetson-specific assets - the AACSB-accredited business school, the historic duPont-Ball Library (Florida's oldest federal depository), the DeLand "America's Best Main Street" setting - to show you chose Stetson's particular values-and-service culture rather than a generic private university.
Expert Insight:
Stetson's ~72?86% acceptance rate (sources vary) makes general admission look easy, but its most valuable pathways are gated and deadline-driven. The School of Music requires a separate audition that most of the music scholarship money flows through, so a student admitted to the university is not admitted to Music without it. And the December 1 scholarship priority date plus first-come financial aid mean a strong applicant who applies late - or treats the writing sample as an afterthought while withholding test scores - can lose both merit money and preferred three-year-guaranteed housing that fills quickly. Early, deliberate sequencing is what protects the aid.
Stetson University Profile
Full Name
Stetson University
City
DeLand
State
Florida
ZIP Code
32723
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Stetson University Degree Worth It?
Whether Stetson University is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $64,400, and graduates see a 2.84% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Stetson University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $69,807/year at Stetson University. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Stetson University, 35.4% receive a Pell Grant and 48.3% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Stetson University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Stetson University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Stetson University graduates report a median income of $51,642, about 27% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Stetson University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, HI | 1180 | 25 |
| The College of Idaho | Caldwell, ID | 1166 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Stetson University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Stetson University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
Degree Programs at Stetson University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Stetson University Admissions
Stetson University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $51,642/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Stetson University runs high, at roughly $69,807+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
35.4% of Stetson University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Stetson University's acceptance rate is 86.4%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Stetson University students is 3.69, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.39 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Stetson University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.29 or below makes admission tougher at Stetson University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Stetson University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1208, and within the 1090–1290 range, keeps you competitive.
Stetson University's deadline is November 1 (Early Decision). Rolling Admissions applies too, so earlier is always better.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.