University of South Florida

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Quick Stats
4202 E. Fowler Avenue

Tampa, FL 33620-9951

[map]
Phone: (813) 974-2011
2010-2011 Tuition
$5,198
in-state
$16,007
out-of-state
Students
30,914
enrolled
44%
male /
56%
female
Admissions
Mar. 1
application deadline
44.6%
accepted

More Information

_

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#181 National Universities

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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 30,914, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,567 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of South Florida's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 181. Its in-state tuition and fees are $5,198 (2010-11); out-of-state tuition and fees are $16,007 (2010-11).

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.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

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 more than 46,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, USF awards more than 9,500 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
2010 Endowment $277,005,757

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 44.6 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 45%
Application deadline March 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by April 15

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at University of South Florida is 28:1, and the school has 22.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of South Florida include: Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching; Psychology, General; Biomedical Sciences, General; Criminology; and Finance, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 85.8 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 28:1
4-year graduation rate 24% - Medium
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching 8%
Psychology, General 8%
Biomedical Sciences, General 7%
Criminology 6%
Finance, General 6%

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Student Life

University of South Florida has a total undergraduate enrollment of 30,914, with a gender distribution of 43.7 percent male students and 56.3 percent female students. 18.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 82.0 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 40,431
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

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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, 84 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of South Florida.

Students who have cars on campus 84% - Medium
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, 53.6 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,129.

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 $5,198 (2010-11)
Out-of-state tuition and fees $16,007 (2010-11)
Room and board $9,000 (2010-11) - Medium
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews

I am a transfer student, so I dont feel very connected to USF, it is a good size school but there are not many places to hangout on or near campus. This last fall really united the school when our football team reached the #2 spot, yet not having a sadium on campus didnt make it really feel like a school event.

Jackie Senior

USF is okay. I'm not happy about the rising costs to stay on campus, and the tuition increases (but hey, all Florida schools are going through that). The administration here are a little too closed off, and seem like they have their own agenda instead of doing more for the students, and not just for the school's namesake. School pride has waned a little, but there might be a jump-start by the summer or next year. Frankly, I think a lot of students don't too much care or worry about what's really going on. I'm ready to keep to my pace and get out of school.

Keonna Junior

The Campus is pretty. I would change the parking, especially for the residents, make more closer to the dorms. I think my school is just right, maybe a little too big, but I've seen bigger, so to me its perfect. People see me in a different light when they know I go to USF, its one reason why I wear my school sweater around. I spent it usually in my dorm when I dont have classes or when I dont eat. The administration is ok, Im a little mad at the school because they are giving us classes on Friday, and I know schools that dont even have Friday labelled as a class day. So if they changed that I think more people would like to come to our school, if not like it a bit better. There is a lot of school pride, but not really, mainly those who love football or a sport. Usually theres a lot of school pride when our football team wins. Parking and Friday classes are things students complain about the most.

Rogue

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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