University of South Florida
One of the youngest AAU research universities, with a big, fast-rising Tampa campus and low Florida tuition.
- Acceptance rate
- 41%
- First-year students entering fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 49,875
- 37,517 undergraduates
- International
- 10%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 22:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $18,846
- 2026-27
About USF
The University of South Florida was founded in 1956 and had 49,875 students in fall 2025 across its main campus in Tampa and a waterfront campus in St. Petersburg. It is a member of the Association of American Universities, one of the youngest institutions to join, and recorded a record $750 million in research funding in fiscal year 2025.
USF has 14 colleges, including the Morsani College of Medicine, the Muma College of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Marine Science, the Taneja College of Pharmacy, the Patel College of Global Sustainability, the new Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing, and the Judy Genshaft Honors College. It is a top-20 public university for US patents and offers more than 240 undergraduate programs.
Admission has become competitive: USF admitted 29,196 of 71,722 first-year applicants for fall 2025 (40.7%), requires the SAT, ACT or CLT, and does not read essays. It suits strong students who want a large research university in a growing Sun Belt metro, particularly in health sciences, business, engineering and computing, at a price that stays low even for out-of-state students.
Truth and Wisdom
University motto
Why students choose USF
Low cost: 2026-27 tuition and fees are $5,960 for Florida residents and $18,846 for non-residents, with automatic merit scholarship review for everyone who applies by January 15.
Health-sciences strength through USF Health and the Morsani College of Medicine, which USF describes as the top-ranked medical school in Florida.
The Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing, a dedicated college for fast-growing tech fields.
A simple application: no essay, no recommendations, a $30 fee and self-reported grades through STARS.
Admissions
First-year students entering fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
29,196 admitted from 71,722 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
6,730 first-years enrolled. In USF's fact book, 79.6% of fall 2025 first-time-in-college students were Florida residents. USF reviews fall applicants for fall, summer and spring starts and may admit some for a different term. Some majors, such as biomedical engineering, have higher GPA and test requirements.
Typical entry requirements
| US high school (18 units) | English 4, math 4 (including one course beyond Algebra I), natural science 3, social science 3, foreign language 2 (same language), electives 2; competitive applicants usually complete 20+ academic units |
|---|---|
| International secondary | Same academic review as domestic applicants, including an SAT, ACT or CLT score; official transcripts instead of STARS for coursework completed outside the US |
| English language | First-year applicants from non-English-speaking countries prove English through their admission test: SAT Reading and Writing 490+, ACT English 17+ and Reading 19+, or CLT Verbal Reasoning and Writing 38+. USF does not accept TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo as substitutes for first-year admission. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 27 daysNovember 2, 2026
Materials due November 16; decisions (admit, deny or defer) released December 9, 2026. Best chance at your preferred campus and term.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~2 monthsDecember 16, 2026
Materials due January 15, 2027, which is also the scholarship consideration deadline; decisions February 10, 2027.
- Rolling Non-binding In ~5 monthsMarch 1, 2027
Materials due March 15; rolling decisions from early March.
Dates are from USF's freshman and international freshman dates-and-deadlines pages for fall/summer 2027 starts.
How to apply
USF application or Common App (no preference); $30 fee or SAT/ACT/CLT fee waiver; Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record (STARS) after applying; official SAT, ACT or CLT scores. No essay is read (USF says any essay submitted will not be reviewed), and recommendations are not part of the application steps.
What admissions looks for
- Recalculated core-course GPA, with extra weight for AP, IB, AICE, honors and dual-enrollment grades of C or better.
- Strength of curriculum: the highest-level courses you can succeed in and work beyond state minimums in math, science and foreign language.
- Grade trend, especially in junior and senior years.
- SAT, ACT or CLT scores, superscored across sittings.
Tips for applying to USF
- 1 Apply Early Action by November 2: USF says it gives the best chance at your preferred campus and start term, and admission gets harder as deadlines pass.
- 2 Don't write an essay for USF; it will not be read. Put your effort into course rigor and test scores instead.
- 3 Send scores every time you test: USF superscores SAT, ACT and CLT sections and considers only your highest results.
- 4 Have your application and materials in by January 15 to be automatically considered for merit-based Admissions Scholarships, including for out-of-state students.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of South Florida
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Everyone who submits a complete application by the January 15 Scholarship Consideration Deadline is automatically considered for merit-based Admissions Scholarships, which are available to Florida and out-of-state students. Florida residents may also receive Bright Futures awards, and the USF Foundation awards over $7 million in privately funded scholarships through a separate application. USF also offers special opportunities for National Merit Scholars.
- $27,248
- 2026-27 cost of attendance living on campus, Florida resident
- $40,134
- 2026-27 cost of attendance living on campus, non-Florida resident
- 84.2%
- Fall 2025 Florida-resident first-years receiving Bright Futures
- About $118 million
- Scholarships awarded, 2024-25
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Medicine and health sciences (USF Health)
The Morsani College of Medicine is named to the highest tier of US medical schools by U.S. News, according to USF's fact book, alongside colleges of nursing, pharmacy and public health.
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
USF's graduate program in industrial and organizational psychology is ranked No. 3 in the US by U.S. News (2025).
Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Taught in the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing, USF's newest college.
Marine science
A dedicated College of Marine Science, and USF is part of both the National Sea Grant and Space Grant programs.
Business (Muma College of Business)
USF's online MBA ranks in the U.S. News top 25, and the Student Innovation Incubator has worked with more than 250 student-led companies.
Research
- A record $750 million in research funding in fiscal year 2025, and membership of the Association of American Universities.
- Ranked in the top 20 public universities for US patents granted for 12 consecutive years (National Academy of Inventors).
- 95 faculty members elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science as of 2025.
- The Center for Urban Transportation Research, home to the congressionally designated National Center for Transit Research.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Behavioral and Community Sciences
- Muma College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing
- College of Marine Science
- Morsani College of Medicine
- College of Nursing
- Taneja College of Pharmacy
- College of Public Health
- Judy Genshaft Honors College
College Scorecard: median earnings of $57,743 ten years after entry (and $48,328 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
USF Tampa is a big, green campus with more than 19,000 trees, and nearly all its streets are named after trees. In fall 2025, 56.9% of new first-years lived on campus. The Marshall Student Center is the hub for clubs, events and the Centre Gallery, and Castor Beach and the USF Botanical Gardens offer breaks outdoors. The Bulls play NCAA Division I sports in the American Conference, with football at Raymond James Stadium, and traditions include Homecoming, USF Week and the Golden Brahman March.
- South Florida Bulls in the American Conference, with nearly 500 athletes in 20 varsity sports.
- Judy Genshaft Honors College for high-achieving undergraduates.
- A campus with more than 19,000 trees, named a Tree Campus USA every year since 2011.
- Student Innovation Incubator, which has worked with more than 250 student-led companies.
Housing. 56.9% of fall 2025 first-years lived on campus; the 2026-27 on-campus housing and food budget is $15,408.
Location
The main campus is in North Tampa, east of the University neighbourhood and about seven miles north of downtown, and USF describes Tampa Bay as one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. The Bulls play football at Raymond James Stadium, and USF St. Petersburg sits on Bayboro Harbor in downtown St. Petersburg, less than a mile from the Salvador Dali Museum.
Nearest airport: Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Notable alumni
- TR Tony La RussaMajor League Baseball manager (BA industrial management 1969)
- MC Mark ConsuelosActor and talk show host (marketing degree 1994)
- JK John KirbyRetired US Navy rear admiral, director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics (BA history 1985)
- GB Grace Byers (Gealey)Actress in Empire (BA theatre arts)
- PI Pam IorioMayor of Tampa 2003-2011 (master's degree)
- JP Jason Pierre-PaulNFL linebacker who played college football for the Bulls
- HH Hulk HoganProfessional wrestler (attended, did not graduate)
Frequently asked questions
What is USF's acceptance rate?
USF admitted 29,196 of 71,722 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of about 41%.
Does USF require the SAT or ACT?
Yes. All first-year applicants must submit the SAT, ACT or CLT, and USF superscores across sittings. Enrolled fall 2025 first-years scored 1160-1340 on the SAT and 25-29 on the ACT (middle 50%).
Does USF require an essay?
No. USF does not request an essay or personal statement, and any essay submitted will not be reviewed.
When is the USF Early Action deadline for fall 2027?
Early Action closes November 2, 2026, with decisions on December 9. Regular Decision is due December 16, 2026 and rolling applications March 1, 2027.
How much does USF cost for out-of-state and international students?
For 2026-27, non-Florida residents pay $18,846 in tuition and fees, and the total cost of attendance living on campus is estimated at $40,134.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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