University of South Florida
The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university founded in 1956 as the first major state university planned and constructed in the United States during the 20th century, with its flagship campus located in Tampa, Florida.[1] It operates three campuses—Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee—serving more than 50,000 students through 14 colleges and offering a broad array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.[2][3] USF has achieved designation as a preeminent state research university, ranking in the top 10% of U.S. institutions by National Science Foundation research expenditures and second in Florida for higher education research and development spending, with annual expenditures exceeding $500 million supporting advancements in fields such as health sciences, engineering, and marine biology.[4][5][6] The university generates an economic impact of $3.7 billion annually in the Tampa Bay region, employs over 16,000 individuals, and has produced notable outputs including top-20 rankings among public universities for new patents and recognition as a leading producer of Fulbright scholars.[2][7][8] Key defining characteristics include its rapid growth from a regional institution to a major research powerhouse, with 164 faculty members identified among the top 2% of global scientists by citation impact and strong performance in interdisciplinary research, such as contributions to information systems publications ranking in the top 10 nationally.[9][10] While USF maintains a focus on empirical research and innovation, it operates within Florida's higher education system, which has faced scrutiny over legislative efforts to survey faculty viewpoints on ideological topics, reflecting broader tensions between state policy and academic autonomy.[11]History
Founding and Early Expansion (1950s-1960s)
The University of South Florida was established through House Bill 1007, signed into law by Governor LeRoy Collins on June 18, 1955, authorizing the creation of a new state university in Hillsborough County to serve the growing population of the Tampa Bay region.[1] The Florida Cabinet approved the site's location on Fowler Avenue, a former World War II airfield known as Henderson Field, on December 18, 1956.[1] This selection reflected the state's post-war emphasis on expanding higher education access in urban areas, prioritizing a metropolitan institution over rural expansions. On October 22, 1957, the Florida Cabinet formalized the name "University of South Florida," positioning it as the southernmost university in the state system at the time.[1] John S. Allen was appointed as the founding president on July 16, 1957, bringing experience from the University of Florida to lead the institution's development.[12] Groundbreaking for the Tampa campus occurred on September 5, 1958, with initial construction focusing on essential facilities including the Administration Building, Chemistry Building, and University Center, completed at a total cost reflecting efficient state funding for rapid development.[1] USF opened as an upper-division institution, admitting only juniors and seniors, to align with state priorities for advanced education amid Florida's population boom driven by migration and economic growth in the 1950s.[13] The first classes commenced on September 26, 1960, with an opening convocation and nearly 2,000 students enrolling in the inaugural fall semester, demonstrating immediate demand for local higher education options.[14] By December 1963, USF held its first commencement, awarding 326 degrees primarily in liberal arts and education, marking the transition to granting bachelor's degrees.[1] Enrollment expanded rapidly through the decade, supported by the addition of undergraduate programs in 1964 and full four-year status, alongside infrastructure growth including libraries and laboratories to accommodate increasing student numbers and academic offerings.[13] In 1965, the university achieved full accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, affirming its academic standards amid this foundational phase.[1]Growth and Multicampus Development (1970s-1990s)
During the 1970s, the University of South Florida underwent rapid expansion driven by regional population growth and state investment in higher education, with enrollment rising from approximately 18,000 students in 1970 to over 34,000 by the early 1990s across its campuses.[15] This period saw the construction of numerous facilities on the Tampa campus, including the Sun Dome arena in 1980–1981 and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, which broke ground in the early 1980s and opened in 1986, reflecting increased research expenditures that climbed from $23.3 million in 1986 to higher levels by decade's end.[15] Under presidents Cecil Mackey (1971–1976) and John Lott Brown (1978–1988), USF added academic programs, such as engineering and nursing expansions, and grew its budget from $100 million in 1978 to $250 million by 1987, enabling the transition to a comprehensive research institution.[1][15] Multicampus development accelerated to address localized educational demands, building on the St. Petersburg campus, which had opened in 1965 and was formalized as a branch in 1969.[16] By 1970, St. Petersburg enrollment exceeded 1,000 students, reaching 3,300 by 1990, with offerings in liberal arts, nursing, engineering, and marine science; facilities expanded via a 1978 groundbreaking supported by philanthropist Nelson Poynter, leading to the opening of Coquina Hall in 1984 for classrooms and services, and further developments like the Marine Science Center in 1994.[17][15] In 1975, USF established its Sarasota-Manatee campus as an upper-division extension, initially merging operations with New College of Florida and growing to nearly 2,000 students by the 1990s through programs like nursing degrees introduced in 1977.[18][15] Additional regional centers emerged, including Fort Myers in 1974 (peaking at 3,000 students mid-1990s before spinning off as Florida Gulf Coast University in 1997) and Lakeland in 1988 with the Curtis Peterson Academic Center, serving around 800 students by 1995 and focusing on ties with the Tampa campus.[15] By the 1990s, under President Betty Castor (1994–2002), the multicampus framework solidified USF's role in the State University System, with St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee gaining momentum toward independent budgeting and accreditation processes initiated late in the decade.[1][16] This era's expansions, including over 210 buildings constructed system-wide in the 1970s–1980s, positioned USF as Florida's fastest-growing public university, contributing an economic impact of $1.1 billion to the Tampa Bay region by 1993 through enhanced research and workforce development.[15]Preeminence Status and Modern Challenges (2000s-2020s)
In 2013, the Florida Legislature established the Preeminent State Research Universities Program to elevate select public universities through performance-based incentives, requiring institutions to meet at least 11 of 12 benchmarks, including six-year graduation rates exceeding 70%, freshman retention rates above 90%, National Academy of Engineering or similar memberships, annual research expenditures surpassing $200 million, and market value of endowments over $200 million per university.[19] The University of South Florida, under President Judy Genshaft, pursued this designation amid rapid enrollment growth from 40,000 students in 2000 to over 50,000 by 2016, alongside investments in research infrastructure that boosted annual expenditures to $336 million by fiscal year 2017.[19] In January 2016, USF earned "emerging preeminent" status by satisfying nine benchmarks, securing initial state funding of approximately $5 million annually to support further progress.[19] By June 28, 2018, USF met all 12 criteria, including a 74% six-year graduation rate and 92% freshman retention, earning full preeminent designation alongside the University of Florida and Florida State University, which unlocked $6.1 million in recurring state funding starting in the 2018-19 academic year.[19][20] This status facilitated enhanced recruitment of top faculty and students, contributing to USF's ascent in national rankings, such as entering the top 50 public universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2020, and supported initiatives like the expansion of the Morsani College of Medicine and partnerships with institutions such as Moffitt Cancer Center, where research funding exceeded $400 million annually by the early 2020s.[21] However, sustaining preeminence amid state budget constraints proved challenging; by 2025, Florida reduced overall preeminence funding from $100 million to $40 million system-wide due to legislative priorities, potentially straining resources for metrics maintenance.[22] Under President Rhea Law, who succeeded Genshaft in 2018, USF navigated the 2020 consolidation of its regional campuses into a unified system, aiming to streamline administration but facing internal debates over resource allocation across locations.[23] The 2020s introduced additional hurdles, including federal scrutiny over campus policies. In March 2025, the U.S. Department of Education launched investigations into USF for alleged race-based scholarships restricted to Black and Hispanic graduate students, citing potential violations of civil rights laws post the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.[24] Concurrently, USF faced probes into handling antisemitic discrimination amid campus protests, joining over 60 institutions under review for failing to adequately address harassment reports following October 2023 events.[25] In April 2024, student-led protests demanded divestment from companies tied to Israel, echoing 1980s activism against South African apartheid investments, though USF's endowment policies emphasized diversified funds without immediate policy shifts.[26] Operational challenges included a 2025 circuit court ruling upholding USF's denial of fee refunds for pandemic-related campus shutdowns, amid broader fiscal pressures from enrollment fluctuations and hurricane recovery efforts.[27] Faculty at the Sarasota-Manatee campus expressed concerns in early 2025 over potential absorption by New College of Florida, highlighting tensions in regional integration post-consolidation.[28] Despite these issues, USF maintained research momentum, with federal grants supporting climate resilience and marine science programs established in the 2020s.[29]Governance and Leadership
Board of Trustees and Administration
The University of South Florida (USF) is governed by a Board of Trustees (BOT) comprising 13 members, including six citizen trustees appointed by the Governor of Florida, five appointed by the Florida Board of Governors, the student body president, and the university president serving ex officio.[30][31] Trustees serve staggered four-year terms, with appointments emphasizing expertise in business, law, education, and community leadership to ensure fiscal responsibility and strategic oversight of the institution.[32] The BOT holds authority over university policies, budget approval, tuition setting, academic program development, capital improvements, and personnel decisions for senior leadership, while coordinating with the Florida Board of Governors for statewide system accountability.[30][33] As of October 2025, William "Will" Weatherford serves as BOT Chair; a former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, he holds a B.S. in international business from Jacksonville University and manages Weatherford Capital.[32] Michael E. Griffin acts as Vice Chair, a USF alumnus with a B.S. in business administration and current vice chairman at Savills.[32] The board includes diverse professionals such as Sandra Callahan, retired chief financial officer at TECO Energy Inc. with CPA credentials; Michael Carrere, former CEO of Lykes Brothers Inc.; N. Rogan Donelly, president and CEO of Tervis; Shilen Patel, CEO of HealthAxis; and Sumit Jadhav, the student body president pursuing degrees in computer science and financial analytics at USF.[32] On October 21, 2025, the BOT unanimously approved Moez Limayem, former dean of USF's Muma College of Business and president of the University of North Florida, as the university's next president, pending Florida Board of Governors confirmation.[34][32] USF's administration executes the BOT's directives through a structured executive team led by the president and provost. Prasant Mohapatra, appointed Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs in March 2023, oversees faculty affairs, curriculum, and enrollment as the chief academic officer.[35][33] Key senior leaders include Charles J. Lockwood, Executive Vice President for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine; Jennifer Condon, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer managing budgets exceeding $2 billion annually; Sylvia Wilson Thomas, Vice President for Research and Innovation directing over $500 million in annual research expenditures; and Cynthia DeLuca, Vice President for Student Success handling enrollment for more than 50,000 students.[36][33] Regional chancellors, such as Christian E. Hardigree for the St. Petersburg campus and interim chancellor Brett E. Kemker for Sarasota-Manatee, report to the central administration to align multicampus operations.[36] This framework ensures operational efficiency, compliance with state mandates, and advancement of USF's research and educational priorities.[33]Presidents and Key Leaders
The presidency of the University of South Florida (USF) has guided the institution's development from its establishment as a regional university in 1956 to a major research institution with preeminence status. Founding President John S. Allen laid the groundwork by overseeing initial construction and academic program launches, while subsequent leaders expanded research, enrollment, and infrastructure amid Florida's population growth and state higher education reforms.[12] Terms have varied in length, with some presidents serving amid interim periods or transitions, reflecting administrative challenges such as funding shifts and leadership searches.[12]| President | Term | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| John S. Allen | 1957–1970 | Founding president who built foundational infrastructure, including 10 initial buildings and early enrollment growth to 18,000 students by 1970; initiated medical and nursing programs.[12] |
| Cecil Mackey | 1971–1976 | Expanded graduate education and research; established the medical school (now Morsani College of Medicine) and College of Nursing; initiated multicampus extensions to Sarasota-Manatee and Fort Myers.[12] |
| John Lott Brown | 1978–1987 | Increased research funding from $9.9 million to $23 million and enrollment from 23,000 to 30,000; founded the Graduate School and College of Public Health; budget grew from $100 million to $250 million.[12] |
| Francis T. Borkowski | 1988–1993 | Boosted enrollment to 34,000 and research grants to $60 million; led the "Campaign USF" fundraising effort raising $120 million; advanced planning for the football program.[12] |
| Betty Castor | 1994–1999 | First female president; created the Office of Undergraduate Research and launched the football team; oversaw construction of facilities like the Gibbons Alumni Center and established the Institute for the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean.[12] |
| Judy Genshaft | 2000–2019 | Oversaw 40% enrollment growth, tripled graduation rates, and secured $1 billion in fundraising; increased endowment from $254 million to $480 million; achieved preeminence designation in 2018 under Florida's accountability system.[12] |
| Steven C. Currall | 2019–2021 | Consolidated USF's multicampus system into a single accredited university; elevated national rankings to top 50 among public institutions; raised $230 million and developed a 10-year strategic plan focused on innovation and student success.[12] |
Campuses and Facilities
Tampa Main Campus
The Tampa Main Campus, located at 4202 East Fowler Avenue in northeastern Tampa, Florida, encompasses over 1,500 acres and features more than 240 buildings.[41][42] This expansive site blends urban proximity to downtown Tampa with rural elements, including borders along 735 acres of forest preserve and riverfront recreation areas.[41] Established in 1956 as the original hub of the University of South Florida, it functions as the flagship location for most undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, housing the majority of the system's approximately 50,000 students.[2][43] The campus supports extensive research and health initiatives, including the USF Research Park with its 120,000-square-foot facility equipped for advanced laboratories and innovation ecosystems.[44] Prominent health infrastructure features the Morsani College of Medicine's 13-story building and collaborations with Moffitt Cancer Center.[45] Academic facilities span colleges of engineering, business, and sciences, anchored by the USF Library, while recreational assets include the USF Botanical Gardens with over 3,000 plant species and natural habitats, and the USF Contemporary Art Museum.[41] Sustainability efforts have earned the campus recognition as a top performer in environmental stewardship.[41] Student life amenities comprise on-campus housing for about 6,400 residents and athletic venues like the Yuengling Center for South Florida Bulls competitions.[46] Ongoing expansions, such as the redevelopment of a 138-acre former golf course into mixed-use zones with additional housing, retail, hotels, and research spaces, aim to enhance capacity and integration with Tampa's growth.[47]St. Petersburg Campus
The St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida is situated on waterfront property along Bayboro Harbor in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, at 140 7th Avenue South.[48] Spanning the city's Innovation District, it functions as Pinellas County's sole residential public research university, providing access to over 40 undergraduate and graduate programs in a close-knit setting with small class sizes.[49] The campus originated on July 1, 1965, when USF took over the former U.S. Maritime Training Center site, with initial classes commencing September 7, 1965, for 260 freshmen housed in converted barracks.[16] [50] By 1969, it had formalized as a branch campus emphasizing upper-division undergraduate and limited graduate offerings for commuter students, per a plan by USF's founding president John S. Allen.[16] Expansion accelerated in the late 1970s with groundbreaking on June 15, 1978, for new facilities including the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library; residential capabilities emerged with the first dorm groundbreaking in 2005.[16] Key endowments, such as a $10 million gift from Kate Tiedemann in 2014 naming the College of Business and a $5 million donation enabling Lynn Pippenger Hall's 2017 opening, supported further development.[16] [49] Following the 2018 Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act, separate accreditation ended in June 2020, integrating it under USF's unified system while preserving local identity.[16] Academics prioritize experiential learning, including archaeology fieldwork and marine science conducted at sea, alongside disciplines like history, hospitality management, and Florida studies.[51] [52] Enrollment centers on undergraduates, totaling around 3,900 with 2,570 full-time and 1,323 part-time as of 2023 data, though new undergraduate intake declined to 512 in fall 2024 from 740 the prior year amid system-wide growth.[53] [54] Facilities encompass residence halls (e.g., Pelican Hall, Ibis Hall), a STEM robotics lab, Wealth Management Center, and Campus Recreation amenities like outdoor courts and aquatics.[49] [55] Research funding rose from $4.5 million in 2017-18 to over $20 million in 2019-20, bolstered by sustainability initiatives such as a 140 kW solar array and LEED Platinum-certified labs.[49] Over 80 student organizations, including a co-ed sailing team, enhance campus life.[49]Sarasota-Manatee Campus
The University of South Florida Sarasota–Manatee campus is situated at 8350 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida, along U.S. Highway 41 and across from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, providing convenient access to the Gulf Coast region's beaches, arts venues, and natural attractions such as Siesta Key and Myakka River State Park.[56][57] Established in 1975 as an extension of the USF Tampa campus, it began with off-site classes in the early 1970s focused on education before expanding into a dedicated regional site that shared facilities with New College of Florida until 2006.[18][58] The campus emphasizes a smaller, community-oriented environment within the broader USF system, fostering close student-faculty interactions amid Sarasota's cultural and economic vibrancy.[59] Facilities expanded significantly with the opening of a 134,540-square-foot, three-story academic building in August 2006, designed to accommodate up to 5,000 students.[60] In August 2024, the campus introduced its first on-site residence hall and student center, the six-story Atala Residence Hall and Campus Student Center, constructed at a cost of $42.3 million to support residential life and activities previously limited by commuter-only status.[18][61] These developments align with ongoing growth initiatives, including enhanced research and community partnerships in the region.[62] The campus delivers over 40 undergraduate and graduate programs drawn from five USF colleges: Arts and Sciences, Behavioral and Community Sciences (encompassing communication sciences and disorders, criminology, and social work), Muma College of Business, Education, and Nursing.[59][63] Offerings include bachelor's degrees in fields like business administration, psychology, and education; master's programs such as the MBA, MS in hospitality management, and MA in elementary education; and specialized graduate options in criminal justice and educational leadership.[64][65] Recent additions effective 2024 feature majors in behavioral healthcare, business analytics and information systems, and psychology, reflecting demand in local industries like tourism and healthcare.[66] With a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, the campus prioritizes small classes and mentorship, serving a student body estimated at around 4,000 as of 2024, bolstered by increased new enrollments system-wide.[59][67]Historical USF System (1965-2020) and Consolidation
The University of South Florida (USF) established its multicampus system in 1965 with the opening of the St. Petersburg campus on July 1, initially utilizing former Maritime Service barracks for facilities, and commencing classes for 260 freshmen on September 7.[17][16] This expansion marked USF's transition from a single-campus institution in Tampa, founded in 1956, to a regional system designed to serve broader educational needs across west-central Florida, emphasizing access to upper-division and graduate programs in underserved areas.[1] The system further grew with the establishment of the Sarasota-Manatee campus in 1975 as a regional extension, initially sharing facilities with New College of Florida before relocating to its current site and expanding offerings in business, education, and liberal arts.[18] Over subsequent decades, the USF System operated as a federated structure with increasing administrative autonomy for regional campuses; for instance, the St. Petersburg campus achieved separate accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2006 while remaining under the overarching USF governance.[68] Similarly, Sarasota-Manatee developed distinct accreditation, fostering localized leadership but leading to fragmented branding and resource allocation that critics argued hindered system-wide competitiveness.[69] By the 2010s, the three primary units—Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee—functioned as separately accredited institutions within the USF System, a decentralization enabled by state policies aimed at performance-based funding and institutional specialization.[69] This structure, however, drew scrutiny for diluting USF's national profile, as metrics like rankings often evaluated campuses independently rather than holistically. Consolidation efforts accelerated with the Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act of 2018, signed into law by Governor Rick Scott on March 2, requiring multi-institution systems like USF to unify under a single accreditation to enhance efficiency, research collaboration, and preeminence status eligibility.[1] The USF Board of Trustees formed a task force, submitted a substantive change prospectus to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) on March 13, 2020, and received approval on June 12, 2020, culminating in full integration effective July 1, 2020.[70][71] This merger streamlined governance under one president and board, preserved campus identities for local programs, and positioned the unified USF as Florida's fourth-largest university by enrollment, with projected benefits including unified branding and $50 million in annual administrative savings.[69][72]Academics
Colleges and Academic Programs
The University of South Florida maintains 14 colleges and schools, delivering 89 undergraduate majors alongside 139 graduate, specialist, and doctoral degree programs across its three campuses.[73] These units span foundational disciplines in arts, sciences, and engineering to specialized fields such as marine science, public health, and artificial intelligence, with offerings tailored to campus locations and emphasizing research integration where applicable.[74] The Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing focuses on integrating artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and computing technologies, marking the first such college in Florida and a national pioneer; it offers programs at all degree levels on the Tampa campus.[74] The College of Arts and Sciences, the largest at USF, covers humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences with programs available across all campuses and degree levels.[74] The College of Behavioral and Community Sciences addresses quality of life, health, and safety improvements, providing all-level programs on all campuses and housing a major behavioral health research institute.[74] The Muma College of Business emphasizes leadership in business and societal contexts, offering programs at all levels across all campuses, with its graduate entrepreneurship program ranked among the top 25 nationally by The Princeton Review since 2008.[74] The College of Education prepares educators for regional, national, and international roles, delivering all-level programs on all campuses and ranking as one of Florida's largest producers of educators over the past decade.[74] The College of Engineering prioritizes sustainability, renewable energy, and biomedical engineering, with programs at all levels primarily on the Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses, noted for innovative research leadership.[74] Additional colleges include the Patel College of Global Sustainability, which tackles global sustainability challenges through all-level programs on the Tampa campus; the Judy Genshaft Honors College, providing personalized learning for high-achieving students across all campuses; and the College of Marine Science on the St. Petersburg campus, recognized among top oceanographic institutions for research and training at all levels.[74] Health-related units encompass the Morsani College of Medicine for innovative medical education and research on Tampa campuses; the College of Nursing for nursing science advancement on Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses; the Taneja College of Pharmacy for pharmaceutical care leadership on Tampa; and the College of Public Health, offering Florida's inaugural bachelor's in public health alongside advanced degrees on Tampa.[74] The School of Design, Art, and Performance supports architecture, arts, music, theatre, and dance with programs on Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses, including research institutes.[74]Enrollment Demographics and Diversity
As of fall 2024, the University of South Florida enrolls nearly 50,000 students across its three campuses, including approximately 38,525 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate students.[75][76] The gender distribution skews female, with 56.8% of undergraduates identifying as female and 43.2% as male; graduate programs show a comparable ratio, with about 58% female enrollment.[76][77] Racial and ethnic demographics, based on self-reported data, reflect a majority White student body, followed by significant Hispanic or Latino representation, as detailed in the table below for the most recent available figures (primarily undergraduates, consistent with overall trends):| Racial/Ethnic Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White | 43% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24% |
| Asian | 9% |
| Black or African American | 8% |
| Two or more races | 5% |
| International (non-resident alien) | 8% |
| Unknown/Other | 3% |
Tuition, Financial Aid, and Accessibility
For the 2025-2026 academic year, undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of South Florida total $6,410 annually for Florida residents and $17,324 for non-residents, covering fall and spring semesters on the main campus.[81] These rates apply to full-time students taking 12-18 credit hours per term and exclude additional program-specific fees, such as those for engineering or health sciences programs, which can add several thousand dollars. Graduate tuition varies by program; for example, in USF Health programs, in-state rates range from $21,128 to $34,084 annually, while non-resident rates reach up to $67,579.[82] Florida's public university system subsidizes in-state tuition heavily through state appropriations, keeping costs below the national public four-year average of approximately $11,260 for residents.[83] USF administers federal, state, and institutional financial aid, with 88% of students utilizing some form of assistance, including grants, loans, and work-study.[84] The average grant aid award stands at $7,724 per student, exceeding the public university average by $455, primarily through federal Pell Grants for low-income undergraduates and state programs like Florida Bright Futures, which awards merit-based scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition for qualifying high school graduates.[85] Institutional scholarships, such as the Bulls Scholarship, provide additional merit aid averaging $2,000-10,000 annually based on GPA and test scores.[86] USF meets 57% of demonstrated financial need on average, with total aid packages reaching $15,184 for recipients.[87] [88] Accessibility is reflected in USF's average net price of $11,578 after grants and scholarships, lower than the national average for public universities, enabling broader enrollment from lower-income families.[88] For students from households earning $0-$30,000 annually, the net price drops to around $4,820, supported by targeted federal and state aid that covers a significant portion of costs without reliance on loans.[89] The university provides a net price calculator for personalized estimates and emphasizes affordability through initiatives like the Florida Prepaid College Plan, which locks in future tuition rates.[90] However, out-of-state students face higher barriers, with net prices exceeding $25,000 after aid, contributing to a predominantly in-state student body.[91]Faculty and Academic Staff
As of fall 2023, the University of South Florida's main campus employed 2,183 instructional staff members with faculty status, including 782 tenured faculty, 181 on tenure track, and the remainder in non-tenure-track roles.[92] This figure encompasses professors, associate professors, assistant professors, instructors, and lecturers across disciplines, contributing to a student-faculty ratio of 22:1 amid an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 38,500 in fall 2024.[42] In August 2024, USF added 291 new faculty members, a 29% increase over the prior year, bolstering expertise in areas such as research-intensive fields.[93] Faculty demographics reflect a composition dominated by non-Hispanic white members, who comprised about 67% of professors as of fall 2018, with Asian faculty at 16%; more recent data indicate persistent underrepresentation of black and Hispanic faculty relative to student demographics.[94] Instructional roles show gender variation, with female instructors numbering 281 and male professors 267 in 2023, per employment breakdowns.[78] Overall, USF's approximately 16,000 employees include administrative and support staff integral to academic operations, though specific breakdowns for non-instructional academic staff are not publicly detailed in recent reports.[75] Notable faculty include Susan S. Bell, Distinguished University Professor in Integrative Biology, recognized for contributions to ecology, and Timothy H. Dixon in geosciences for geophysical research.[95] Robin Murphy, a professor of engineering, directs the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue, advancing robotics applications.[96] In 2023, 164 USF faculty ranked in the global top 2% of researchers by citation impact, per Stanford University analysis, underscoring strengths in STEM and health sciences despite broader institutional challenges in faculty retention amid state policy shifts.[9][97]Rankings and Recognition
National and International Rankings
In the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, the University of South Florida placed 88th among national universities, marking its highest position to date and an improvement from 91st the previous year.[42][98] Among public universities, it ranked 43rd, reflecting seven consecutive years of ascent driven by metrics such as graduation rates, social mobility, and faculty resources.[6][99] Forbes' 2026 America's Top Colleges list positioned USF at 112th overall, evaluating factors including alumni salaries, debt levels, and return on investment.[100] Internationally, USF ranked 357th in the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities 2025, assessed on bibliometric indicators like publications, citations, and international collaboration.[101] In the QS World University Rankings 2026, it placed tied for 654th, based on academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, and international faculty-student ratios.[102] The Times Higher Education World University Rankings did not assign a specific band for USF in the core 2025 list but placed it 301-400th in the Impact Rankings for sustainable development goals.[103] The Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai) 2025 categorized USF in the 401-500 range, emphasizing research output, quality, and highly cited researchers.[104] These global positions highlight USF's strengths in research productivity amid competition from research-intensive institutions worldwide.Research Output and Patents
The University of South Florida reported $461 million in total research expenditures for fiscal year 2023, encompassing sponsored activities across science, engineering, and other fields.[5] This figure reflects growth from $333 million in fiscal year 2020, as documented in the National Science Foundation's Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey, positioning USF among the top 100 U.S. institutions for research spending.[105] In fiscal year 2024, USF secured $738 million in research awards, a 7% increase from the prior year and part of a 35% rise over five years, supporting outputs in areas like health, engineering, and sustainability.[5] These expenditures fund faculty-led projects, with federal sources contributing significantly, though institutional reporting may emphasize totals without always distinguishing between awards and actual outlays verified by NSF methodologies.[106] USF's research productivity includes peer-reviewed publications tracked through university repositories and databases like Scopus, with aggregated data showing approximately 3,500 publications in 2023 yielding over 164,000 citations.[107] Such metrics, derived from global indexing, highlight strengths in medicine, engineering, and environmental sciences, though citation counts can vary by field and database coverage.[108] In patent activity, USF's Technology Transfer Office facilitated 86 new U.S. patents issued in fiscal year 2025, including innovations in medical devices and stereology systems for cancer analysis.[109] This placed USF among the top 20 public universities for new utility patents, driven by disclosures from 234 inventions that year and licensing agreements commercializing faculty research.[7] The office's efforts emphasize practical translation, with patents assigned to the university board of trustees and supported by federal grants, though success rates depend on market viability beyond issuance numbers.[110]Graduation Rates and Outcomes
The University of South Florida maintains a first-year retention rate of 91.5%, a four-year graduation rate of 65.6%, and a six-year graduation rate of 74.2%, based on data from the 2023 academic year.[111] These figures represent substantial progress from earlier benchmarks, with the six-year rate rising from 48% in 2009 to nearly 70% by 2017 and continuing to improve through institutional student success programs focused on retention and completion.[112] [111] Disparities persist by gender, with male students achieving a six-year graduation rate of 71% compared to 76% for female students in 2023, prompting targeted initiatives to address male student success.[113]| Metric | Rate (2023) |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 91.5% |
| Four-year graduation | 65.6% |
| Six-year graduation | 74.2% |