University of South Florida

Public · Selective · FL

Photo: FightingRaven531 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationFL · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads37,207

Student:faculty22:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate65.4%

6-yr grad rate76.8%

Drop-out rate8.7%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$6k

Out-of-state tuition$17k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity56.7%

Gender diversity56.8%

International8%

Identity—

Overview

The University of South Florida is a fast-rising public research university based in Tampa, with additional campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee. Its research profile has grown quickly in recent years, moving USF into the ranks of major research universities nationally, and its urban Gulf Coast location shapes much of its academic and career pipeline directly rather than incidentally.

Academics

Health sciences are a particular strength, anchored by USF's medical school and a broader academic health system that gives undergraduates real exposure to clinical and research settings. Business and engineering are also strong, with growing programs in areas like cybersecurity and data-driven fields reflecting Tampa Bay's expanding tech and health sectors. As a large research university, introductory courses can be sizable, with more specialized instruction, research labs, and faculty mentorship opening up in upper-level and graduate work.

Campus & student life

Tampa's urban setting gives students access to a major metro job market and a lively city social scene, beaches, nightlife, professional sports, alongside a large, active campus community. Division I athletics and a wide range of student organizations and Greek life reflect the scale of a large public university, and the campus itself has grown substantially with new residential and research facilities in recent years.

Getting in

Admissions is largely metrics-driven at this scale, with strong grades and test scores central to the process, though specific programs, especially health sciences and other competitive majors, can be considerably more selective than the university overall. Honors college admission is a separate, more selective track for students seeking a smaller-scale experience within the larger university.

After graduation

USF's health sciences graduates benefit from the university's own medical school and hospital-system pipeline, and business and engineering graduates have strong placement into Tampa's growing corporate, finance, and tech sectors. The university's research growth has also expanded opportunities for undergraduates to move directly into graduate research programs, both at USF and elsewhere.

Worth knowing

The three-campus structure means students should be clear about which campus, and which version of a given program, they are actually applying to, since offerings, culture, and selectivity can differ meaningfully by location. The honors college is also worth understanding separately from general admission for students who want smaller classes within a large university.

usf.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate43.2%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1130–1320 · ACT 24–29

Test policyrequired

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Regular decisionDec 16

AdmissionRolling

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App or Own application.

Priority / scholarshipJan 15

Early Action is non-binding; submitting your application and materials by the January 15 scholarship-consideration deadline brings automatic merit-scholarship review, and USF keeps accepting applications on a rolling basis into March.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗