Why choose USF?
The University of South Florida was founded in 1956 as the first urban public university in the state of Florida. USF has since grown to become one of the top three research universities in the state of Florida and home to over 46,000 students. We are accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master's, specialist, and doctoral levels, including the Doctor of Medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland.
Points of Pride
- USF is one of only three Florida public universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation in the top tier of research universities
- USF is the ninth largest public university in the nation
- USF placed # 14 among the nation's top 20 "up and coming universities" in the 2009 U.S. News & World Report college rankings
- The Bulls football team rose as high as #2 in the AP national rankings in 2007 and began 2008 ranked #19 nationally by AP and #21 by the Coaches' Poll
- USF has 212,000 alumni representing all 50 states and 124 nations
- The Tampa campus is in a construction boom with more than $300 million recently completed or planned projects
- USF's new Marshall Student Center is a 233,000 square-foot center that includes a 1,100-seat ballroom, 700-seat theater, meeting rooms and eating areas
USF is a proud member of the Big East athletic conference, with men and women teams in most major college sports. Each year students can be seen on campus enjoying a baseball or softball game, or taking in a men or women's basketball game at the Sun Dome, or screaming en masse below the buccanneer pirate ship at Raymond James Stadium.
With a large diverse population, the Tampa Bay area boasts year-round festivals and activities, and a pleasant climate. Minutes from campus, the Gulf of Mexico offers sunny beaches, swimming holes, fishing piers and a host of outdoor activities. Tampa and Ybor City offer contrast with a rich urban night life. Places to go and see include, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island water park, the Lowry Park Zoo, and The Florida Aquarium. Orlando and Disney World are but an hour away.
In addition to our beloved USF Bulls, the Tampa Bay area supports several professional sports teams, such as the NFL's 2002 Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Major League Baseball's 2008 American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, and the NHL's 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.