History of Daytona State College

For more than 60 years, Daytona State College has evolved from a small campus into an academically superior multi-campus institution providing educational and cultural programs for the citizens of Volusia and Flagler counties. It began in 1957 when the Florida Legislature authorized Daytona Beach Junior College as one of the state's first comprehensive colleges. The college was divided into three divisions: college credit, adult education and the Mary Karl Vocational School. Although the three divisions were administered by one president, they essentially functioned as separate entities under the Volusia County School System.

Volusia County Community College, also a separate entity under the school system, merged with DBJC in 1965. The 1968 Legislature combined the divisions into a single administrative unit under a District Board of Trustees independent of the county school system. In 1971, the official name of the college was changed from Daytona Beach Junior College to Daytona Beach Community College. In 2008, the District Board of Trustees and the state of Florida approved the college's request for yet another name change - Daytona State College. This was done to reflect the institution’s transition to a four-year institution offering workforce baccalaureate degrees.

Today, Daytona State offers more than 100 certificate, associate and baccalaureate degree programs, with graduates serving in critical fields that include health care, emergency services, business, education, hospitality, engineering, technology and more. The college also offers the Associate of Arts University Transfer degree, which provides students the first two years of a four-year bachelor's degree, saving students and their families thousands in the process.

As a Level II state college, the institution also offers the Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, as well as seven bachelor's degrees in education, including: Mathematics (grades 6-12), Biology (grades 6-12), Earth/Space Science (grades 6-12), Exceptional Student Education (grades K-12), Chemistry (grades 6-12), Physics (grades 6-12) and Elementary Education (grades K-6). The college also offers the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree.

Daytona State prides itself on its ability to provide students with affordable tuition, convenient and flexible course scheduling, and an expanded array of online programs. The college's online bachelor's programs have been rated among America's best by U.S. News and World Report every year since 2013. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education placed Daytona State's annual tuition for full-time students among the top 50 most affordable in the nation. Community College Week, one of the nation's leading publications focusing on higher education institutions that offer two-year associate degrees, also named Daytona State among its list of Top 100 Associate Degree Producers.

Over the years, the college has fostered a tradition of excellence in academics and service to a growing community. A leading partner in the area's workforce and economic development initiatives, Daytona State is continually developing new means to deliver educational services to the community. The college now serves approximately 23,000 students annually.