Stetson University was ranked as the seventh Best Regional University in the South by U.S. News & World Report and was also recognized as one of the Most Innovative and Best Value Schools for 2025.

U.S. News & World Report evaluated nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality to determine the Best Colleges rankings for 2025.

In addition to being ranked as the No. 7 Best Regional University in the South, Stetson was ranked as No. 7 for Best Value, No. 7 for Most Innovative, and No. 8 for Best Undergraduate Teaching, as well as No. 32 for Top Performer on Social Mobility. More than 130 universities in the South were evaluated in this category.

“We are grateful that Stetson continues to be recognized as one of the top universities in the South, offering an outstanding education for our students,” said Stetson President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. 

“Our innovative approach to education emphasizes small class sizes, close relationships with faculty and peers, and immersive learning outside the classroom that prepare students for successful careers after graduation,” President Roellke said.

Named a Best Value School, Stetson awarded more than $85 million in scholarships and grants during the 2023-2024 academic year, and the average financial aid package was $53,306.

“The Stetson University experience is affordable,” said Jeffery T. Gates, LPD, Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Stetson. “We offer academic excellence and immersive learning beyond the classroom to provide a relationship-rich college experience for students that is only known at Stetson.”

U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with key information, including graduation rates and student outcomes, to compare undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities.