Colleges of Distinction

For the fourth year in a row, Stetson was named a National College of Distinction for 2026-2027 and earned eight additional awards, including for outstanding business programs and career development.

Colleges of Distinction evaluates schools each year based on key areas, such as engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. 

To ensure graduates are career ready, Stetson actively bridges the gap between academic preparation and professional life by weaving career development into the student experience from day one, the college guide reported. This includes everything from training on resume writing and interview preparation to connecting students with an alumni network for mentoring and internships. The School of Business Administration and the Department of Education also were recognized for academic excellence. Further, the college guide placed Stetson among top institutions for support services for military-affiliated students and international students, as well as for its commitment to equity and inclusion.

According to the Colleges of Distinction, students at Stetson go beyond the course material and into internship, research and global study opportunities. Students live their experience, hone their skills and work side-by-side with professors who are committed to helping them get ready to accomplish big things and bigger dreams. 

“Stetson University has built an environment where students are supported and challenged in ways that translate into real academic, professional and personal outcomes,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer at Colleges of Distinction.

Best Colleges in America

Stetson once again is included in The Princeton Review’s list of America’s Best 392 Colleges, joining an elite group of about 14% of colleges nationwide.

For the 12th year in a row, Stetson appears in The Best 392 Colleges: 2027 Edition, featuring schools that provide an academically outstanding undergraduate education. Stetson also was named a Best College in the South and, based on student surveys, was ranked No. 24 in the nation for “Most Politically Moderate Students.”

The Princeton Review selects the top colleges based on data from surveys of 2,000 college administrators about their school’s academic offerings. Students at each institution are surveyed and rate their schools on various topics and campus experiences. At Stetson, students gave high marks to professors (on a scale of 60 to 99), saying instructors are accessible outside the classroom (92) and they are interesting and bring their material to life (90).

Aside from rigorous academics, Stetson provides “plenty of hands-on activities” and this practical focus extends to faculty who provide “concrete options” for students to pursue after graduation. “The university’s commitment to interactive technologies, collaborative projects, and experiential learning creates a vibrant educational environment,” one student said.

“We are delighted to name Stetson University one of our Best Colleges for 2027, and we recommend it to students searching for their ‘best-fit’ college,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief. 

“The colleges we profile in The Best 392 Colleges vary by type, size, locale and campus culture. In our opinion, each one offers an academically outstanding undergraduate education.”

Best On-Campus MBA Programs

Another accolade from The Princeton Review: Stetson’s School of Business Administration is among the best, as cited in the Best On-Campus MBA Programs for 2027.

The Princeton Review compiled the list based on data from surveys in 2025-2026 of administrators at 245 schools that offer on-campus MBAs and more than 24,250 students enrolled in the schools’ on-campus MBA programs. More than 60 data points were factored into the program selections, encompassing academics, faculty, career services and other topics. 

Stetson ascended to rank among the best. 

“We congratulate Stetson University along with the other institutions that made our Best Business Schools for 2027 lists,” said Franek. “They differ importantly in program offerings, specializations and other aspects, but they all met our key criteria for designating them as ‘best.’ We recommend each and every one of them for their excellent academics, robust experiential learning opportunities, outstanding career services, and the positive feedback we received from their very own customers — their on-campus MBA students we surveyed.”

Stetson’s MBA program offers four concentrations: Accounting, Data Analytics, Finance and a new track for Human Resource Management.

Accreditation is a also a distinction. The School of Business Administration and the accounting program both are accredited at the undergraduate and graduate levels by the AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Only 195 elite business schools worldwide have both business and accounting programs accredited by AACSB International — representing an elite tier of roughly 1% of business programs globally. 

Additionally, Stetson undergraduate students have the option to participate in the Accelerated Bachelor’s to MBA Program — allowing them to take two classes as electives while they are undergraduates. When they are admitted into the graduate program, the requirement to take the graduate-equivalent classes is waived.