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Tampa , FL
The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university located in Tampa, Florida. Established in 1956, USF has grown to become the fourth-largest university in the state, serving over 50,000 students. The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across various disciplines.
USF is known for its strong commitment to research and innovation. It is classified as a "very high research activity" university by the Carnegie Foundation, joining the ranks of other prestigious institutions in the country. The university invests heavily in research, with numerous research centers and institutes focusing on various fields, such as health sciences, engineering, business, and the arts. USF researchers have made significant contributions to several areas, including medicine, environmental science, and cybersecurity.
In addition to its academic excellence, USF provides a vibrant campus life and a diverse student community. The university offers various extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations for students to engage in, ranging from sports teams to cultural and academic clubs. Located in the heart of Tampa Bay, USF benefits from its proximity to a vibrant metropolitan area, offering access to internship opportunities, cultural events, and recreational activities. Overall, the University of South Florida provides students with a well-rounded educational experience that combines rigorous academics, cutting-edge research opportunities, and a stimulating campus lifestyle.
University of South Florida is a public university located in Tampa, FL. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 43%. The freshman retention rate at University of South Florida is 91.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 77%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is March 1. The transfer application deadline is July 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about University of South Florida.
Quick Facts
38,525
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
77%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to increase your chances of being accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to University of South Florida and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 29,621 in 2025.
Test Scores
77.6% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 22.1% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 17.85, 62.93 between 24-29, 18.64 in the range between 18-23, and 0.59 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 4.06. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by March 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for University of South Florida was 91.2% in 2025, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 77%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the best match for you is not simple. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of South Florida in 2025 was 49,622.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 12.72% for that year. There was a total of 38,525 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 2,971 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 3,406.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 16,228 male and 22,223 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 3,272, while the number of Afro-American students was 2,980. 9,003 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,708 as multirace. The school also had 44 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 42 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 1,061 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some important facts on University of South Florida costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for University of South Florida is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $4,559. Tuition fees were $15,473 for students coming from a different state. For international students, tuition fees at this school came to $15,473, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $1,851 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $15,473 | $1,851 | $17,324 |
| In-State | $4,559 | $1,851 | $6,410 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant expense. The approximate expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $780.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
At University of South Florida, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $14,824. If you only wanted a dorm room, it cost $9,224 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $8,192.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 4,559 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,824 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 780 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,163 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at University of South Florida.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,826 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $13,790.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 12,776 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 14,893. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $67,512,921, and state $47,021,296. The students of University of South Florida received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $32,858,473, and external in the amount of $3,552,780.
$3,404
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 965 students overall (including freshmen) at University of South Florida in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 283 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $67,512,921 while the state aid is $127,567. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $14,387,297. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $4,021,646 USD.
Majors
Faculty
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at University of South Florida was 22:1. That means that there were 22 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 2,530 teachers at this school. This number included 1,234 male and 1,296 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at University of South Florida.
Student Population Diversity Graph
FAQ
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University of South Florida is located in Tampa, FL.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of South Florida is 43%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for University of South Florida is 91.2%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.