Stetson University has completed an intensive study of its academic programs to strengthen programs most in demand by students and employers, ensuring graduates are ready for successful careers.

A working group of faculty, staff, students, alumni and trustees focused over the past year on enrollment trends, student demand and labor market projections. 

Based on their recent Academic Portfolio Optimization study, Stetson will invest more than $20 million in academics, including more money for scholarships. The investments were approved by the Board of Trustees and will be implemented beginning this fall. 

The study comes as Stetson reported another strong year for fundraising with $18 million in gifts and new pledges raised in the last fiscal year, ending June 30. The university also exceeded its annual Stetson Fund goal, which provides unrestricted funds for the university’s greatest needs, including scholarships.

Stetson’s endowment has grown to $440 million over the past decade through fundraising and excellent investment management.

“We’ve had record-breaking fundraising at Stetson,” Stetson President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, said. “Our endowment continues to rank second or third among all institutions in the state of Florida on a per-pupil basis.”

Since Roellke became president in 2020, the university has raised approximately $235 million toward a goal of $350 million by 2030. 

“We’re well on our way to achieving that goal,” President Roellke said. “We’ve had substantial investment in scholarships, substantial investment in our physical plant and substantial investments in innovation.”

The recent academic study and investments also are driving gains in enrollment. Stetson is seeing a year-over-year increase in first-time-in-college students for the Fall 2026 semester. The university also received a 43% increase in applications.

“Students and families are taking notice,” said Jeffery T. Gates, LPD, Stetson’s Senior Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing. 

One of the academic investments supports Law Ready, a new program that allows Pre-Law students to explore legal careers from day one and live together in the new residence hall, Lynn Hall. The students benefit from close mentoring and opportunities for experiential learning, such as with Stetson’s stellar Mock Trial team. Law Ready prepares students for admission to top law schools, including Stetson College of Law, ranked No. 1 in the nation for both Trial Advocacy and Legal Writing.

Additional investments include an immersion lab, a sales accelerator program, and an investment center in the School of Business Administration. These enhancements to academic programs build upon the success of the Roland George Investments Program, where students manage a portfolio of $11.5 million in stocks and bonds. 

“We are really looking at the programs and opportunities that students want and that are in demand once they leave, setting them up for success,” Gates said. 

Citing Stetson’s endowment and recent enrollment, S&P Global Ratings affirmed the university’s “BBB+” rating on revenue bonds with a stable outlook, according to an S&P report issued July 10.

–Stetson Today