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Stetson University is home to about 4,500 Hatters in DeLand, a small central Florida city about a half hour from Daytona Beach and an hour from Orlando. Stetson is a private school with a tight-knit campus, and downtown DeLand sits a ten-minute walk away, so student life and city life blur together. Downtown has been voted one of Florida's best main streets more than once, with restored brick storefronts, a historic theater, and the Fall Festival of the Arts that lines Woodland Boulevard with artists each year. The terrain is flat and bike-friendly, the VOTRAN bus runs through town, and walking covers most of your day. The springs and state parks of Volusia County are close, and the beaches and Orlando are a short drive away.
Stetson has a three-year residency requirement, so students are expected to live on campus for their first three consecutive academic years. Only after that, in year four and beyond, can they move off without restriction. Because of this, the real off-campus push comes from upperclassmen.
You can get an earlier exemption if you meet specific criteria, such as living with family within 25 miles of campus, military deployment, an approved internship or study abroad, or other compelling individual circumstances, submitted through the housing office. DeLand's rental process is standard, with an application, deposit, and proof of income or a co-signer. The city is small and walkable, so the closest units near downtown and campus go fast.
Read lease terms closely and confirm whether utilities are bundled, since older houses near campus typically leave those to the tenant. Many units run a standard twelve-month term that may not line up neatly with the academic calendar. Spring sublets from students leaving for internships or study abroad can fill a partial-year need.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Stetson University before signing a lease.
DeLand is a small market and Stetson keeps most students on campus for three years, so the off-campus search is concentrated among juniors and seniors and the inventory near campus is limited. That makes timing matter more, not less. If you have cleared the residency requirement, start looking in winter through spring for the next fall, because the walkable places near downtown and campus get snapped up first. Getting an early start is the surest way to land a close-in unit.
Classes start in late August, so aim to sign by late spring or early summer. The walkable places near downtown and campus see the most competition in this window. Spring also brings sublets from students leaving for internships or study abroad. Signing before summer gives you the best access to the limited close-in inventory.
If you search late, DeLand has some turnover and you can sometimes find a place over the summer. Plan on looking a little farther out, toward the Woodland area or Glenwood, if the closest units are gone. Those outer areas tend to hold inventory longer. A spring sublet can be a useful fallback for a partial-year stay near campus.
Downtown sits a short walk from campus, with restored Victorian and brick buildings, the historic theater, and a main street that students treat as an extension of campus.
The area along and around Woodland Boulevard holds residential streets and apartment options within easy reach of class.
Just north of town, Glenwood is more spread out and residential, a good fit if you do not mind a short drive and want a bit more room for a little less.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A room in a shared apartment or house near Stetson generally runs about $600-$1,000/month per person. Older houses in the Woodland area and farther out toward Glenwood land at the low end, while newer units within walking distance of downtown sit higher. Plan on another $60-$140/month for utilities if they aren't included in the lease.