What Is It Known For?
As a member of the Florida College System, Daytona State College has shaped educational opportunities in Volusia and Flagler counties for more than 65 years.
The college enrolls roughly 23,000 students each year across seven campuses, delivering everything from community enrichment offerings to four-year bachelor’s degrees. This comprehensive public institution has become central to the region’s economic growth by preparing graduates for local workforce needs.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked DSC’s online bachelor’s programs among America’s finest for 13 years running. The college holds the distinction of being the top-ranked non-university institution nationwide in this category.
Degrees & Certifications
At Daytona State College, you can select from over 100 certificate, associate, and bachelor’s degree programs across multiple timeframes.
Graduates enter critical fields, including:
- Healthcare
- Business
- Education
- Hospitality
- Engineering technology
- Computer science, and more.
Class Schedules
Your learning options at Daytona State College include day and evening sessions, weekend courses, online formats, self-directed modular programs, and independent study. This flexibility allows you to build a schedule around work, family, and personal commitments.
Clinical externships provide hands-on experience in applicable healthcare and technical programs, connecting classroom theory to professional practice.
Is It a Good School?
Yes. Daytona State College receives accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which authorizes it to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. The college also grants certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
Acceptance Rate
Daytona State College maintains a 100% acceptance rate through its open-access policy. This approach gives every student the opportunity to pursue postsecondary education.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
Tuition at Daytona State College varies by program level and residency status.
- Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degree Programs
- In-State Per Credit Hour: $79.22
- Out-of-State Per Credit Hour: $311.18
- Baccalaureate Degree Programs
- In-State Per Credit Hour: $91.79
- Out-of-State Per Credit Hour: $550.43
- Vocational Certificate Programs
- In-State Per Credit Hour: $68.53
- Out-of-State Per Credit Hour: $276.09
- Adult Education and Applied Skills Building (ASB) Programs
- In-State Per Semester/Out-of-State Per Semester: $30
You can use the school’s net price calculator for personalized cost estimates.
Programs & Courses
Business
- Hospitality
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
- Project Management
Criminal Justice & Law
- Paralegal
- Correctional Officer
- Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
Healthcare
- Dental Assisting
- Dental Hygiene
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Paramedic
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Massage Therapy
- Medical Assisting
- Medical Coder/Biller Program
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Opticianry Technology
- Phlebotomy
- Physical Therapy
- Radiography
- Respiratory Care
- Surgical Technology
- BSN
- CNA
- Nursing
Professional Services
- Broadcast TV Production
- Baking & Pastry Arts
- Culinary Arts
- Interior Design
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
Skilled Trades
- Construction
- Fire Fighter
- CNC Machining
- Welding
- Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing
- Automotive Service Technology
- Electrical Apprentice
- HVAC/R
- Plumbing
Technology
- Computer Aided Design and Drafting
- Computer Information Technology
- Computer Programming
- Database Technology
- Cybersecurity and Network Systems Technology
- Web Development
Campus Locations
Daytona Beach 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Daytona State College (DSC) is a public institution recognized for its affordability and a wide variety of programs but is severely criticized for inconsistent and poor administrative services, particularly within the Financial Aid and Admissions departments. Students often praise the educational value while simultaneously expressing intense frustration with the staff and bureaucracy.
Overall Score: 3.8/5 Stars
Common Praises
Exceptional Value and Affordability: DSC is repeatedly praised as “one of the cheapest community colleges in the state of Florida” and has not raised tuition in several years. Students feel they get a lot of value for the low cost.
Effective Faculty (Inconsistent): While inconsistent (see criticisms), specific programs and individual instructors are highly praised. Reviewers highlight “amazing teachers” and very knowledgeable instructors in departments like the Basic Law Enforcement Academy and certain pre-calculus or vocational courses.
Physical Campus and Resources: The campus facilities are noted as “well maintained” and “wonderful,” with amazing additions. The school is also commended for specific resources like the Southeast Museum of Photography and the CCAMPIS program which helps student parents afford daycare.
Personalized Advising: Despite general staff issues, individual advisors (like one named “Elena”) are praised for going “above and beyond to offer thoughtful guidance and unwavering support.”
Common Criticisms
Severe Administrative and Communication Failure: This is the overwhelming and consistent complaint across years of reviews. Students report that staff are “terrible at answering emails and the phones,” with wait times up to 30 minutes and the inability to get return calls. Admissions, Financial Aid, and Student Services are described as “lazy and clueless,” and “incompetent.”
Financial Aid Distribution Problems: Reviewers detail critical problems with the Financial Aid Department, including multi-month delays in dispersing funds (leading to students being unable to afford housing), and erroneous refunds causing holds on accounts and preventing transfers.
Inconsistent/Rude Staff Information: Students complain that they get a “different answer from everyone” they speak to, indicating a massive lack of departmental coordination and clear policy knowledge among staff, with some being outright “rude” or having “poor customer service.”
Poor Professor Quality (Inconsistent): While some professors are great, others are described as “rude,” seeming to “hate their jobs,” and forcing students into self-taught courses or merely assigning book work without effective instruction. The use of “faulty” AI detection software without guidance was also noted.
Momentum
The momentum for Daytona State College is negatively defined by its bureaucracy. The school is successfully managing its core mission of providing affordable education and maintaining good physical facilities. However, the consistent, recurring complaints about administrative failure (particularly financial aid delays and communication black holes) create an atmosphere where students are actively discouraged from enrolling or recommending the school. The common use of a boilerplate response, directing students to the “Student Advocate,” acknowledges a systemic problem that has not yet been resolved and continues to threaten the school’s reputation despite its strong affordability.