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Summary
University of South Florida is a public institution that was founded in 1956. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 29,975, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,561 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of South Florida's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 170. Its in-state tuition and fees are $5,806 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $14,994 (2011-12).
The University of South Florida, or USF as it’s commonly known, is a research institution with multiple campuses throughout the state. The public university is based in Tampa and has regional campuses in Sarasota and Lakeland. First year students are required to live on campus, unless they commute from one of several nearby counties, are older than 21, or are married. For students who do not live on campus, the school organizes a Commuter Student Network and offers bus transportation for students who drive to school and park in remote lots. On campus, there are more than 400 student organizations to check out, as well as a large Greek community. Any activity that students get involved in may be added to their cocurricular transcript, an official document the school offers to help students showcase their extracurricular involvement and specialized skills to future employers. The USF Bulls athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference.
For graduate students, the school offers degree programs through the USF College of Medicine, a graduate school of engineering, a College of Education, and other departments. Notable alumni of the University of South Florida include wrestler Hulk Hogan; model Lauren Hutton; Richard Oppel, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former editor of the Austin American-Statesman and Charlotte Observer; and Kimberly Ross, executive vice president and chief financial officer of global cosmetics company Avon.
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Since opening for classes in 1960, the University of South Florida has developed into one of the nation's major public research universities. USF is classified as a "Research University with Very High Research Activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, receiving more than $300 million a year in external funding to support research and development projects. With nearly 40,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, USF awards more than 9,700 degrees annually at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee, and Lakeland. Virtually everyone in the Bay area enjoys some benefit from USF through countless health, outreach and engagement activities. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1956 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2011 Endowment | $327,233,947 |
Applying
When applying to University of South Florida, it's important to note the application deadline is March 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due April 15. The application fee at University of South Florida is $30. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 38.0 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 38.1% |
| Application deadline | March 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | April 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of South Florida is 27:1, and the school has 26.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of South Florida include: Finance, General; Criminology; Biomedical Sciences, General; Psychology, General; and Elementary Education and Teaching. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 87.8 percent.
Student Life
University of South Florida has a total undergraduate enrollment of 29,975, with a gender distribution of 43.9 percent male students and 56.1 percent female students. At this school, 16.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 84.0 percent of students live off campus. University of South Florida is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at University of South Florida.
| Total enrollment | 39,596 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of South Florida offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of South Florida also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of South Florida, 63 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of South Florida.
| Students who have cars on campus | 63% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of South Florida, 64.2 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,641.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $5,806 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $14,994 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $9,032 (2011-12) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
