University of South Florida Tuition and Fees

By Jennifer Calonia

(Last Updated – 06/2025)

The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. Established in 1956, USF is part of the State University System of Florida and one of the largest universities in the state by enrollment. Across the school’s 14 colleges, undergraduates can choose from more than 200 majors, minors, and concentrations, from business and engineering to the arts and health sciences.

U.S. News & World Report ranks USF as #45 in Top Public Schools, and the #1 “best value” among all universities in Florida, public or private.

Total Cost of Attendance

The University of South Florida tuition in 2024-25 for state residents was $6,410. This is significantly lower than the national average of $11,260 for in-state tuition at public universities. For residents of other states, USF tuition was $17,324, which comes in well below the national average for out-of-state tuition of $29,150.

Tuition, however, is only part of the total cost of attending college. Here’s a look at other expenses students can expect when attending the University of South Florida.

Financial Aid

At the University of South Florida, the vast majority of students (88%) use financial aid to help cover the tuition and other costs. This may be student loans, scholarships, or grants, or a combination of these.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who 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, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit 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, 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

•  SoFi Scholarship Finder – Use our handy tool to streamline your search by award type, location, level of study and more.

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Roughly a quarter of students tap student loans to help pay the University of South Florida tuition and other costs: 24% take out federal loans and 3% get private student loans (with an average amount of $14,401).

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -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, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition 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

The University of South Florida cost of attendance for four years — including tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other expenses — is $106,064 for in-state students (based on 2024-25 numbers). By comparison, the national average at public universities for in-state students is $115,360 for four years.

For out-of-state residents, the four-year cost for attending USF is $149,720. This is lower than the national average of $186,920 for out-of-state cost of attendance.

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2024-25

University of South Florida undergraduate tuition and fees for the 2024-25 academic years were $6,410 for in-state students, which was the same as the prior academic year. The tuition and fees for out-of-state students were $17,324, also a 0.0% increase from the prior academic year.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for graduate students at USF for 2024-25 averaged $10,428 for in-state students and $21,126 for out-of-state students. This is a good deal (particularly for in-state students): The average cost of graduate school tuition and fees in the U.S. is $22,430 per year.

There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

The cost per credit hour is $211.19 for Florida residents; $575.01 for nonresidents. This includes tuition and fees.

Campus Housing Expenses

Though freshmen are not required to live on campus, USF offers a wide variety of on-campus living arrangements, including traditional, suite, and apartment-style housing. They also offer Living Learning Communities, where students with similar interests or majors live and learn together.

Costs for 2024-25

•   Housing and food expenses (on campus): $14,440

•   Housing and food expenses (off campus): $12,600

•   Other living expenses (on/off campus): $4,896

Total living expenses for 2024-25 came to an estimated $19,336 for students who lived on campus and $17,496 for those who lived off campus.

University of South Florida Acceptance Rate

The University of South Florida acceptance rate is 41%, which makes the school moderately selective.

Admission Requirements

To apply to USF as an incoming freshmen, you’ll need to:

•   Complete the USF online application or the Common App.

•   Pay the nonrefundable, $30 application fee (or submit an ACT, CLT or SAT application fee waiver).

•   Submit your Student Self-Reported Academic Record (SSAR).

•   Submit Your SAT, ACT or CLT Scores.

Here are key dates and deadlines to know:

•   November 8: Priority application deadline

•   November 15: Priority supporting documents deadline (priority decisions are released on December 10)

•   December 16: Rolling decisions begin

•   January 15: Application deadline for scholarships

•   March 1: Final application deadline

•   March 15: Final supporting documents deadline

•   May 1: Deposit deadline