The college offers more than 100 certificate, associate and baccalaureate degree programs in fields such as healthcare, emergency services, business, education, hospitality, engineering, and technology. In addition to having standard classes at its main and regional campuses, DSC offers a number of fully online degree programs through its distance learning platform.
The Florida Legislature authorized Daytona Beach Junior College as one of Florida's first comprehensive colleges in 1957. Its three divisions – college credit, adult education, and the Mary Karl Vocational School – functioned as separate entities under Volusia County Schools, although they all were administered by the college's president. Volusia County Community College was founded simultaneously as a school for African Americans; at its inception Daytona Beach was all-white (at the time there were no integrated colleges in the state). Following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, VCCC was closed in 1965,[1][4][5][6] and its students were given the option of enrolling at Daytona Beach. Those who did found an unhospitable atmosphere, and while 450 students transferred in 1965-66, black enrollment in 1966-67 was under 100.[7]
In 1968, the Florida Legislature combined Daytona Beach Junior College's divisions into a single administrative unit under a District Board of Trustees independent of Volusia County Schools. In 1971, the college was renamed Daytona Beach Community College.[1] Besides the main campus in Daytona Beach, the college offers several regional campuses, located in DeLand, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach/Edgewater, and Flagler/Palm Coast, as well as the Advanced Technology College and News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach.
Daytona Beach Community College became a four-year college in 2006, when it offered its first bachelor's degree, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management. In 2008, the college was renamed as Daytona Beach College, then a month later renamed as Daytona State College, reflecting its transition to a four-year institution offering workforce baccalaureate degrees. The college began offering Bachelor of Science in Education degrees in spring 2009, Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology degrees in fall 2010, bachelor's degrees in Nursing and Information Technology in January 2014, and the Bachelor of Science in Accounting in fall 2020.[1]
Campuses
Main campus
Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality & Culinary Management
Aside from housing the primary administrative offices, the main campus is also home to the Southeast Museum of Photography at the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality and Culinary Management, as well as a University of Central Florida (UCF) partnership center. In the 2022-2023 school year, the college opened its first student housing facility.
Regional campuses
The University Center
In addition to the Daytona Beach campus, Daytona State College has several other campuses to service Volusia and Flagler counties. In Daytona Beach, there are two other campuses: the Advanced Technology Center, where several vocational programs are offered, and the News-Journal Center, which houses the college's performing arts venues and the Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment, & Art.
Outside Daytona Beach, there are campuses in DeLand, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, and Palm Coast. In addition to having standard classes at these campuses, DSC offers a number of fully online degree programs through its distance learning platform.
DSC, in partnership with the University of Central Florida, participates in a program called DirectConnect. Through this program, all students and alumni of Daytona State College are assured admission to the university, though not necessarily to academic programs in the UCF colleges.
