Bethune-Cookman University

Bethune-Cookman University is a private historically Black university in Daytona Beach, Florida. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs across fields such as business, education, health sciences, liberal arts, and STEM disciplines. Founded by educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune, the institution has long focused on expanding access to higher education for African American students and underserved communities. The university supports a residential campus environment and competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Wildcats. Students drawn to Bethune-Cookman University often value its historic mission, faith-based foundation, and emphasis on leadership, service, and community engagement.

Bethune-Cookman University was founded in 1904 in Daytona Beach, Florida, when Mary McLeod Bethune opened the Daytona Literary and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls with five students. The school later merged in 1923 with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville, becoming Bethune-Cookman Collegiate Institute. In 1931, the institution was accredited as a junior college and officially renamed Bethune-Cookman College. Throughout the mid-20th century, Bethune-Cookman University expanded its academic programs and campus facilities while maintaining its commitment to educating African American students during segregation. The college gained four-year status and continued to grow in enrollment and academic offerings. In 2007, Bethune-Cookman College was granted university status, becoming Bethune-Cookman University. Today, Bethune-Cookman University remains rooted in its founding mission while offering a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees and participating in NCAA Division I athletics.