Daytona State College Named a 2026 Top 10 Military Friendly and Military Spouse Friendly School

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (March 26, 2026) – Daytona State College has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly Educational Institution and a Military Spouse Friendly School by the Military Friendly organization.

“We are honored to support active-duty service members, veterans and their families,” said Dr. Tom LoBasso, President of Daytona State College and a 21-year veteran of the Pennsylvania and Florida National Guards, retiring with the rank of Sergeant First Class. “Their service and sacrifice strengthen our communities and we’re proud to provide the education and support that help them take the next step in their careers and their lives.”

Military Friendly is a standard that measures an organization's commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the community of active duty, reserves, Guard, veterans and their spouses. 

“Daytona State serves more than 1,000 military-affiliated students annually and offers dedicated advising and support services tailored to their needs,” said Charles Fordham, II, Coordinator of Veteran Services at Daytona State and a 22-year U.S. Army and Florida Army National Guard Veteran retiring with the rank of Captain. “We work closely with each student to make the transition to college as smooth as possible and help them stay on track to reach their education and career goals.”

The Military Friendly Schools list is created annually based on extensive research, using public data sources and response to the Military Friendly Schools survey. For more information, visit militaryfriendly.com.

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Offering more than 100 certificates, associate and bachelor’s degree programs, Daytona State College is the leader in education and workforce training needs of Volusia and Flagler counties and beyond. The College enrolls approximately 23,000 students a year at its seven campuses, with graduates serving in critical fields including healthcare, emergency services and public safety, aeronautics, business, education, hospitality, engineering, project management, accounting, computer science, digital media and more. Additionally, Daytona State generates nearly $943 million in economic impact in Volusia and Flagler counties annually and supports 13,612 jobs according to a recent labor-market analysis of the College’s economic impact.

Daytona State has been recognized as a leader in higher education numerous times. U.S. News & World Report ranks the College among the Top Tier Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. The U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Center ranks DSC among the top 50 most affordable public four-year institutions in the country, with less than half the tuition of the national average. And U.S. News & World Report has ranked DSC among its Top Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans multiple times.