University of South Florida: Academics, Cost, Ranking

The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research institution with its main campus in Tampa, Florida, and additional locations in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. As one of 12 institutions in the State University System of Florida, USF comprises 14 colleges and offers over 240 programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist, and doctoral levels.

Recognized as an “R1: Doctoral University – Very High Research Activity,” USF is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is also a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and is designated as one of Florida’s three Preeminent State Research Universities by the Florida Board of Governors.

Established in 1956, USF is the fourth-largest university in Florida, with an enrollment of 49,766 students from all 50 U.S. states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and over 145 countries as of the 2022–2023 academic year.

In 2022, USF reported a $2.31 billion annual budget and an economic impact exceeding $6 billion. According to the National Science Foundation, the university spent $568 million on research and development in 2019, ranking 43rd nationally and 25th among public universities. USF’s endowment of $889 million is the third-largest among Florida’s public universities and the highest of any American public university established post-World War II.

USF has a strong record in innovation, ranking first in Florida, seventh in the U.S., and 16th globally for U.S. patents granted in 2018, according to the Intellectual Property Owners Association. The university’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni collectively hold over 2,400 patents. USF is home to the National Academy of Inventors and the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, both located in the USF Research Park.

Athletically, the South Florida Bulls compete in NCAA Division I as part of the American Athletic Conference. The university’s 19 varsity teams have secured six national championships and 165 conference titles, while its athletes have claimed an additional 23 individual and relay national championships and 223 individual and relay conference titles.