Non-Degree Admissions
Your education does not have to follow a single path.
Students take courses for many reasons, and Stetson University is here to meet you wherever you are on your journey. Whether you are completing requirements to transfer credit back to another institution or returning to the classroom for personal or professional growth, you can pursue your goals on your own terms.
As a non-degree-seeking student, you get to sample what Stetson University has to offer, from our accomplished faculty to our dedicated staff to our relationship-rich learning experience. We hope you enjoy your time here and take a confident next step toward your future.
You fall into one of five types of non-degree-seeking students on campus:
- Non-Degree Seeking Students hold no degree and are not seeking one but take courses for credit. You are billed at undergraduate tuition rates.
- Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students are college graduates who take courses for credit without enrolling in a graduate program. You are billed at graduate tuition rates.
- Transient Students are seeking a degree at another college but take courses at Stetson University for a limited time. You are billed at undergraduate tuition rates.
- Auditors enroll in a course but earn no academic credit. Your participation in class work is at the option of the instructor. A course you take in audit status may not count for credit unless you repeat it in a different semester. You may be billed at undergraduate or graduate tuition rates, depending on the course.
- Special Designation students take part in our Community Education Project, Study Research Abroad Semester, Discover Eden, or other programs, and you receive special instructions from your respective program to apply and continue through the non-degree-seeking process.
As a non-degree-seeking student, you are not pursuing an official academic degree, minor, or certificate at Stetson University. You are taking a few classes in pursuit of your own goals, you plan to live in your own space rather than on campus, and you understand that federal, state, and institutional financial aid is reserved for degree-seeking students and is not available for non-degree-seeking study.
If you plan to apply to Stetson University as a non-degree-seeking student, we suggest the following application deadlines so you can account for processing time and Stetson University holidays:
| Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | January 7 |
| Summer 2026: Session 1 | May 11 |
| Summer 2026: Session 2 | May 11 |
| Summer 2026: Session 3 | June 15 |
| Summer 2026: Session 4 | June 15 |
If you are a graduate student, you may enter during your respective summer term. Please see the Graduate Calendar and reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Missing a deadline may affect your enrollment, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible. If you cannot meet an application deadline, you must submit a request to the Director of Undergraduate Admissions. This does not guarantee an exception but helps us better understand your unique situation. We typically process applications within a minimum of two weeks after completion. If you submit a complete application after the deadline, we will move it forward to the next qualifying entry term.
For more information or help with the non-degree-seeking process, please contact us at [email protected] or call 386-822-7100.
Completing the Non-Degree Admissions Process
When you take courses at a small, private, liberal arts institution like Stetson University, you get to sample a relationship-rich experience while you make progress on the goals that shape your vision of the future.
Discover the range of academic opportunities Stetson University offers so you know whether we have the courses you need to progress on your academic journey. Choose between undergraduate and graduate courses, or take a look at what you can study at our College of Law in Gulfport and Tampa, Florida. If you are interested in taking courses there, be sure to check out the Law Admissions website.
Search for courses in the Registration Dashboard to see whether the courses you want are offered in the coming semester.
You can determine prerequisites by selecting a course title and navigating to the "prerequisites" tab in the window.
For graduate prerequisites, such as those for medical school, please refer to the exact courses your school or schools of choice recommend. Though a course may seem relevant, it might not teach the exact concepts that school is seeking for your preparation.
Review the tuition costs for the corresponding level of your undergraduate or graduate courses and your course load, meaning the number of courses you plan to take. Reach out to the Office of Financial Aid for additional information.
As a non-degree-seeking student, you are not eligible for institutional financial aid or federal aid, so you must pay out of pocket or through private loans.
Apply as a non-degree-seeking student through our Office of Admissions. We tailored our application to better understand and accommodate the diverse categories of non-degree-seeking students. We typically process applications within a minimum of two weeks after completion. You will need to submit transcripts from all previous academic institutions.
Be sure to list every course you are interested in taking for the coming semester by providing the title, Course Registration Number (CRN) and instructor so we can evaluate your application for the correct classes.
Once you are admitted, we pair you with a success advisor who connects you with the department chair for the specific courses you want to take. Your advisor guides you through course selection and makes sure your academic interests are met within available offerings and any restrictions.
Know that enrollment positions in courses are officially held for current degree-seeking students and are not confirmed until after the add/drop date each semester. As a non-degree-seeking student, you risk removal from a course to make way for a degree-seeking student if no other spaces are available.
Some courses may require special permission to enroll. Department chairs play a key role in this process by verifying prerequisites and course availability and facilitating instructor permissions when required.
Once your course schedule is finalized and approved, the registrar's office enrolls you in your selected courses.
Know that if you want to continue your studies at Stetson University as a non-degree-seeking student, you will need to complete a separate application for each subsequent semester you intend to enroll.
For additional information, please contact our Office of Admissions at [email protected].