Stetson University

Stetson University is a private university located in DeLand, Florida, with additional campuses in Gulfport and Tampa. Founded in 1883, it is the oldest private university in Florida. The institution offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through its College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Music, and College of Law. Stetson University is known for its emphasis on liberal arts education, small class sizes, and community engagement. Its historic main campus in DeLand is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Students are often drawn to Stetson University for its residential campus environment, Division I athletics, and programs in law, business, music, and the social sciences.

Stetson University was founded in 1883 in DeLand, Florida, as DeLand Academy by philanthropist Henry Addison DeLand. Established to provide higher education in a growing Florida community, the institution was incorporated as DeLand University in 1887. In 1889, it was renamed John B. Stetson University in honor of benefactor John B. Stetson, whose financial support strengthened the school’s early development. John Franklin Forbes served as the first president, guiding its initial academic expansion. In 1900, Stetson University established the first law school in Florida. The university maintained ties to the Florida Baptist Convention for much of its early history before becoming independent in the late twentieth century. Over time, Stetson University expanded its academic programs, developed additional campuses in Gulfport and Tampa, and gained recognition for its historic DeLand campus, shaping its evolution into a comprehensive private university.