By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 06/2022)

Total Cost of Attendance

The University of South Florida is a well-respected research university located in sunny Tampa Bay. University of South Florida tuition for in-state students in 2021-22 was $6,410, and $17,324 for out-of-state students. This is lower than the national average for tuition at a public university of $10,740 (for in-state students) and $27,560 (out-of-state).

Here’s some Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Costs for 2021-22

Financial Aid

Nearly all students on the campus of USF (92%) receive financial aid to help pay for USF tuition. This includes scholarships, grants, and student loans.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

There are two options for student loans to help with University of South Florida tuition: federal and private. One-fourth of students took out federal student loans, and 3% took out private loans. The average private student loan is $10,692 per year.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

To attend the University of South Florida for four years, based on 2021-22 numbers, the total cost would be $96,712 for students who come from Florida and $140,368 for students from other states.

Here’s some Florida Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2021-22

University of South Florida tuition, fees, and room and board for in-state students in 2021-22 totalled $18,978, while it was $29,892 for out-of-state students.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2021-22

Students who opt to continue their studies after completing their undergraduate degree can attend USF graduate school. The total cost for in-state students is $10,428, and for out-of-state students it’s $21,126. Both of these are far below the national average for tuition at a public graduate program of $54,500. There are graduate loans available to help you pay for it.

Cost per Credit Hour

You also have the option of attending the University of South Florida part-time. In that case, you would pay $211.19 per credit hour. You may also be eligible to take out student loans as a part-time student.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2021-22

*Based on studio pricing. Average rate based on available apartments on USF’s off-campus housing website in 2022.

First-year students at USF are not required to live on campus, though many do. The campus offers traditional dorms, suites, and apartment housing, as well as fraternity and sorority houses.

For those who elect to live off-campus, there are many apartments, duplexes, and homes located near campus. This resource can help you explore the options.

University of South Florida Acceptance Rate

Fall 2020

The USF acceptance rate of 49% means that slightly less than half of all students who apply get in.

Admission Requirements

Increase your odds of being accepted to the University of South Florida by making sure to include everything required with your application.

Required:

•  High school transcript and GPA

•  Secondary school record

•  ACT/SAT scores

Recommended:

•  Secondary school rank

The deadline for priority applications is December 1, and the final deadline for the fall or summer semester is April 1. You can apply here .

SAT and ACT Scores

USF does require SAT or ACT scores to be submitted with applications. Here are the scores at the 25th and 75th percentile.

Popular Majors at the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida offers over 200 undergraduate majors. Here are the most popular.

1. Health Sciences

The most popular degree at USF is health sciences. There are many concentrations to choose from, including aging health studies, biological health sciences, health care administration, health information technology, social and behavioral health sciences, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 1,058

2. Psychology

USF offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology, as well as those with a concentration in advanced research experience in psychology or diversity.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 750

3. Biomedical Sciences

For those interested in pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy, the biomedical sciences program offers a solid base in science, chemistry, math, and physics.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 748

4. Biology

USF offers several Bachelor of Science degrees in biology, including those with a concentration in animal biology, ecology and evolution, medical biology, and plant biology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 581

5. Nursing

Another popular major at the University of South Florida is nursing. There are several options for the nursing undergraduate program, including the Veteran to BSN (V-CARE) major, which is designed for service members and veterans with medical training experience as medics.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 506

6. Finance

At USF, you can major in finance or choose a concentration of corporate finance, investment analysis, or real estate.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 433

7. Marketing

USF offers degrees in marketing as well as those with concentrations in digital marketing, entrepreneurship, sales, and sports and entertainment management.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 405

8. Criminology

Criminology students study theories and issues related to crime and the criminal justice system, and they learn how to think critically and conduct criminal research.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 387

9. Accounting

Students in the accounting program are well-prepared for careers in the government, private enterprises, and nonprofits. Coursework includes financial accounting, economic principles, managerial accounting, and statistics.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 314

10. Business

USF offers several business-related majors, including accounting, business advertising, finance, personal finance, management, marketing, business analytics and information systems, hospitality management, information assurance and cybersecurity management, entrepreneurship, supply chain management, risk management and insurance, and global business.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 292

Explore all the programs you can study at USF here .

Graduation Rate

Here are the percentage of students who graduated after starting at USF in 2014:

•  4 years: 59%

•  6 years: 74%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Median earnings for graduates of USF ($50,262) are just above the average for graduates of four-year public institutions ($47,891).