University of South Florida Tuition and Fees

By Jennifer Calonia

(Last Updated – 06/2023)

Total Cost of Attendance

The University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa is a public research university known for its diversity of undergraduate degree programs, including health sciences, psychology, and marine sciences. For 2022-23, USF tuition and fees were $6,410 for in-state undergraduates, which is lower than the national average tuition of $10,940 for in-state tuition at public universities. The total University of South Florida cost, including books, supplies, room and board, and other expenses, was $24,652.

USF out-of-state tuition and fees were $17,324, which is significantly lower than the national average of $28,240. The total cost of attendance for out-of-state students was $35,566.

Costs for 2022-2023

Financial Aid

Nearly all freshmen who attend USF full-time receive some form of USF financial aid to pay for their University of South Florida tuition, including grants, scholarships, and loans. In fact, 98% get grants or scholarships, either through federal programs or state grants and scholarships. Students who received federal Pell Grants – a need-based program for low-income families — were awarded an average of $6,002 in Pell Grant funds.

Explore financial aid options: Florida Student Loan & Scholarships.

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

•  Scholarship Search Tool

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Of the students who have USF financial aid, 20% have federal student loans, and 2% have private student loans averaging $11,370 to help pay University of South Florida tuition.

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

The University of South Florida cost for four years, including USF tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other expenses, would be $98,608 for in-state students. This is lower than the national average of $106,760.

For residents of other states, the University of South Florida cost for four years would be $142,264, which is lower than the national average of $175,960. Here’s some Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2022-23

Undergraduates who are state residents paid tuition and fees of $6,410 for the 2022-23 academic year. With the addition of $12,622 for room and board, the total cost of attendance for an in-state student was $19,032. For out-of-state students, the total cost was $29,946.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2022-23

In-state graduate students paid $8,350 in tuition, while the USF out-of-state tuition for grad students was $19,048. All graduate students paid an additional $2,078 in fees. That made the cost of graduate school $10,428 for in-state students, and $21,126 for non-resident students. This is well-below the national average cost of $62,650 for a master’s degree.

There are many options for graduate loans that can help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

Florida undergraduate residents pay $105.07 for tuition per credit hour. The total cost per credit hour for tuition and fees is $209.69 or $211.19, depending on the campus. Generally, undergraduate programs require 120 credit hours to graduate. This means in-state students who are on a four-year plan must take at least 30 credit hours each year which costs $3,152.10 in tuition alone.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2022-23

*Average rate based on available apartments on the University of South Florida’s off-campus housing website in 2023.

University of South Florida Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021

If you’re wondering about the USF ranking, the University of South Florida is moderately competitive when it comes to admittance. The university accepted 49% of the 50,352 undergraduate applications it received for fall 2021.

Admission Requirements

For incoming first-time freshmen, the University of South Florida asks for a student’s high school GPA, school record, and test scores.

Required:

•  High school GPA

•  High school transcript

•  SAT or ACT scores

•  TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language), if applicable

Recommended:

•  Secondary school rank