Welcome to the University of South Florida, a Preeminent State Research University! Located in the heart of Tampa Bay, the University of South Florida is dedicated to empowering students to maximize their potential for lifelong success.
USF is situated in the vibrant and diverse Tampa Bay region, with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee. Together these campuses serve more than 50,000 students and offer undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral degrees.
Across our 14 colleges, undergraduates choose from over 180 majors and concentrations, from business and engineering to the arts and USF Health. We are dedicated to empowering our students to prosper and have been recognized nationally for closing the achievement gap regardless of race, background or socioeconomic status.
Over the past five years, USF has been the fastest-rising university in the nation, public or private, on the U.S. News and World Report's list of best universities. USF ranks as the 44th best public university in America.
Our graduate programs continue to number among the best, according to the U.S. News and World Report, with eight programs ranking in the top 50 in 2018.
High-impact, global research is central to USF's mission as the state's only metropolitan Preeminent Research University,as designated by the Florida Board of Governors. In 2018, USF reached the top 25 public universities for research expenditure – and 42nd in the nation overall among public and private universities. With total research expenditures of $568 million in 2016-2017, USF is at the forefront of cutting-edge research of medicine, science, engineering, the arts and more.
Established in 1956, USF is a leader among young universities. Our on-campus Technology Incubator has created over 230 jobs locally, and our Center for Entrepreneurship ranks in the top 15 nationally. We are also leaders internationally, and in 2018 were the number one producer of Fulbright Scholars in the nation, for the second year in a row.
Our forward-looking, entrepreneurial spirit has helped us cultivate an exceptional environment for our students. In 2018, USF earned the Active Minds Healthy Campus Award, given in recognition of our success prioritizing and promoting the health and well-being of our students. And now home to a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa – the most prestigious national honor organization in the country – USF is poised to help these students unleash their greatest potential.
Our belief that every student will succeed if given the opportunity informs everything we do here at USF. We welcome you to explore more about our university – in person and online – and discover how you can prosper at USF.