University of South Florida

About

The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university in Tampa, Florida. It is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1956, USF is the fourth-largest public university in the state of Florida, with an enrollment of 50,755 as of the 2018–2019 academic year. The USF system has three institutions: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Each institution is separately accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university is home to 14 colleges, offering more than 80 undergraduate majors and more than 130 graduate, specialist, and doctoral-level degree programs.

USF is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". In its 2011 ranking, the Intellectual Property Owners Association placed USF 10th among all universities worldwide in the number of US patents granted. The university has an annual budget of $1.5 billion and an annual economic impact of over $3.7 billion. In a ranking compiled by the National Science Foundation, USF ranks 43rd in the United States for total research spending among all universities, public and private.

Majors

The USF Tampa campus offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and 130 graduate, specialist, and doctoral degree programs under 14 colleges. Based on a semester system, the USF academic calendar is composed of three academic semesters each year. The academic year begins in the fall, running from August to December. The spring semester generally begins in January and ends in late April or early May. The summer semester is broken down into three overlapping sessions – A, B, and C – that generally span either six or ten weeks.

• Accounting 
• Advertising
• Anthropology
• Art History
• Astronomy
• Biomedical Anthropology
• Biomedical Engineering 
• Biomedical Sciences
• Business Analytics and Information Systems (For Business Majors Only) Minor
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Chinese Language
• Communication
• Computer Engineering 
• Criminology
• Cybersecurity
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Elementary Education
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Microbiology
• Exploratory Curriculum
• Film and New Media Studies Minor
• Finance
• Foreign Language
• Forensic Behavioral Health Minor
• General Business Studies
• Geography
• Geology
• German Studies
• History
• Industrial Engineering
• Infection Control Minor
• Information Technology
• International Studies
• Linguistics
• Management
• Marketing
• Mass Communications
• Mathematics Education
• Mechanical Engineering
• Microbiology
• Military Leadership Minor
• Music Education
• Nursing
• Philosophy
• Physical Sciences
• Physics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Science Education
• Social Science Education
• Sociology
• Studio Art
• Theatre
• World Languages and Cultures

Tuition fees

For the 2017–18 academic years, tuition costs at the Tampa campus were:

Undergraduate

$211.19 per credit hour for in-state students, and $575.01 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Total tuition/fees :$6,410 for in-state and $17,324 for out of state

Graduate

$431.43/credit hour for in-state students and $877.17/credit hour for out-of-state students. Total tuition/fees :$10,428 for in-state and $21,126 for out of state.

As an international student, you are required to show that you have the funds to support yourself for an entire year before you can get a student visa. Please remember:

• Additional costs may be assessed depending on your course of study.
• All international students are required to have health insurance for themselves and their families. Learn more about the health insurance and immunization requirements at USF.
• Tuition and fees are assessed according to the student's Florida residency classification. Most international students are classified as non-Florida residents and pay out-of-state tuition.
• Actual costs of housing are dependent on the type of on-campus or off-campus housing selected. Visit Housing & Residential Education for more information on living on campus at USF.

Student involvement

There are more than 600 registered student organizations at USF, including academic, professional, special interest, Greek, and multicultural groups. USF students are welcome to join existing organizations or apply to create their own. The USF Center for Student Involvement, located in the Marshall Student Center, provides multiple programs throughout the academic year, including the University Lecture Series, Homecoming Week, USF Week, and more. In addition to the Center for Student Involvement, the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement offers numerous opportunities for organization involvement, personal and organizational leadership development, and community service.

Housing

There are 34 residence halls on the USF Tampa campus, offering traditional, suite, and apartment-style housing. In total, these residential halls provide housing to more than 5,600 students. The university also offers specialized housing options such as family housing, female-only housing, graduate student housing, and Greek Village. Each bedroom on the USF Tampa campus is furnished with a twin extra-long bed, dresser, desk, and chair, trash can, and closet space for every resident. Each residence hall has at least one resident assistant.

In 2009, the university implemented a new policy requiring all first-year, full-time undergraduate students to live on campus. The goal of the policy is to provide new students with a comprehensive educational experience. Students exempt from this new rule include those who remain living with their parents and/or legal guardians within Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, are above the age of 21 by the first day of fall classes, have a dependent child or family member, or are married.