Stetson University has been named to Military Times’ “2026 Best for Vets: Colleges” list, ranking the university among the best colleges in America for veterans and military-connected students. The recognition comes just before Veterans Day and continues Stetson’s appearance on the annual list, which it also made in 2025.

This year, 197 students on Stetson’s DeLand campus are using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits, including 41 veterans and 156 spouses and dependents.

“This recognition reflects what our student veterans experience every day at Stetson: small classes where professors know them by name, an office dedicated to helping them make the most of their benefits and a community that respects what they bring from their service,” said Christopher Griffin, director of Veterans Services at Stetson University. “We want every veteran who comes here to feel supported from the first day of class through graduation and beyond.”

Stetson’s Veterans Services office helps student veterans and their families navigate VA education benefits, connect with campus resources and find a community of peers. Veterans on the DeLand campus also receive priority registration so they can get the classes they need each semester. The office works alongside the Student Veterans Organization, academic support services and financial aid staff to ease the move from military to college life.

“Stetson has been an incredible place for veterans to continue their education and build a future beyond the military,” said Ethan Saylor, a Navy veteran and business administration major in the Class of 2029. “The support and welcoming community make it easier to balance family, work and school.”

Each spring, students from the DeLand campus can travel to Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla., to meet with the Veterans Advocacy Clinic. Under faculty supervision, clinic staff and law students offer free help with VA disability claims, including reviewing past decisions, gathering evidence and appealing denied claims.

The Military Times honor follows Stetson’s recognition by Colleges of Distinction as one of the best colleges in America for Military Support for 2026-2027.

On Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, Griffin will join the city of DeLand’s Veterans Day ceremony at Bill Dreggors Park.

Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges” ranking is an independent resource designed to help service members, veterans and their families identify colleges that invest in their success. The list is based on a detailed survey of colleges and universities, along with public data from the U.S. Department of Education and the VA. The 2026 ranking is published online at bestforvets.militarytimes.com and will appear in the November/December print issues of Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times.

For more information, visit Stetson’s Veterans Services webpage.