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Stetson University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · DeLand, FL · 2,297 students

The verdict

Stetson University charges a net price of $19,372/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $77,488. Graduates earn a median $51,642 ten years after entry, $3,282/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 23.6 years — a 20-year net return of -$11,848, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Stetson University's 23.6-year payback ranks #1,094 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 15% of them, and #33 of 166 in Florida.

Better ROI than 15% of US colleges#1,094 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$19,372
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$51,642
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
23.6 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
72%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Stetson University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$19,372/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$77,488our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$51,642Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$3,282/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$23,250Scorecard, 2026
Payback23.6 yrsour math
20-year net return-$11,848our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Stetson University's own numbers. Net price $19,372 × 4 years = $77,488 total. Median earnings $51,642 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,282 a year of premium. $77,488 ÷ $3,282 = 23.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$11,848. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Stetson University students graduate with?

A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $51,642 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Stetson University students graduate?

62% finish their degree — 38% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $77,488 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $124,981 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Stetson University expensive compared with other Florida colleges?

Its $19,372 net price runs $440 below the $19,812 median across the 166 Florida colleges we profile, and $1,760 less across the full degree.

Stetson University: frequently asked questions

Is Stetson University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Stetson University charges $19,372/yr after aid ($77,488 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $51,642 ten years out — $3,282/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 23.6 years and returns -$11,848 net over 20 years, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone.
How long does a Stetson University degree take to pay off?
About 23.6 years. We divide the $77,488 four-year net cost by the $3,282/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Stetson University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $19,372/yr — about $77,488 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Stetson University compare to other Florida colleges?
It ranks #33 of 166 Florida colleges we track by payback. Its $51,642 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $19,372 net price is above the national median of $16,902.