The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university in Tampa, with a branch campus in St. Petersburg and nearly 50,000 students.[1] It was founded in 1956.[1] QS places it in the 761–770 band in the World University Rankings 2027;[2] U.S. News 2027 ranks it 46th among public universities.[3]
For fall 2026 to summer 2027 USF charges $210.19 per undergraduate credit hour to Florida residents and $670.42 to non-residents; graduate courses cost $430.43 and $994.29.[4][5] For international first-year applicants USF requires minimum SAT, ACT or CLT scores and does not accept TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo in their place.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | University of South Florida (USF) |
| Location | 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States; branch campus in St. Petersburg[1] |
| Type | Public research university; Carnegie R1; member of the Association of American Universities (AAU)[7] |
| Founded | 1956 (Wikipedia gives 18 December 1956; classes began in 1960)[7] |
| Students | Nearly 50,000 across Tampa and St. Petersburg (USF); Wikipedia gives 49,875 for 2025–26[1] |
| International students | 4,756 in fall 2025; most from India, Vietnam, Brazil, Bangladesh and China[8] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 761–770 (band; no exact position)[2] |
| U.S. News 2027, public universities | 46th (43rd in the previous year)[3] |
| Tuition fall 2026 to summer 2027, undergraduate, per credit hour | $210.19 Florida resident · $670.42 non-resident (plus flat fees of $37 per term)[4] |
| Tuition fall 2026 to summer 2027, graduate, per credit hour | $430.43 Florida resident · $994.29 non-resident; business and engineering: $466.34 · $1,030.20[5] |
| Cost of attendance 2026–27 (on campus) | Undergraduate $27,248 Florida · $40,134 non-Florida. Graduate $29,922 · $41,200[9] |
| English requirement, international first-year | SAT Reading and Writing 490, or ACT English 17 and Reading 19, or CLT Verbal Reasoning and Writing 38; TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo not accepted instead[6] |
| English proficiency, graduate | TOEFL iBT 79 (before 21 Jan 2026) or 4.5 (after) · IELTS 6.5 · PTE Academic 53 · Duolingo 110[10] |
| Official website | usf.edu |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the University of South Florida
USF’s website lists its founding year as 1956 and describes campuses in Tampa and St. Petersburg. It serves nearly 50,000 students and is accredited to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities.[1]
Wikipedia gives the founding date as 18 December 1956, with classes starting in 1960, and records that ownership of the Sarasota-Manatee campus passed to New College of Florida on 1 July 2026.[7] In fall 2025 USF enrolled 4,756 international students.[8]
How is the University of South Florida ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, USF is in the 761–770 band; the list we read gives no exact position for it.[2]
In the U.S. News & World Report 2027 ranking of public universities (reported on 23 September 2026) USF is 46th, down from 43rd the year before. The report we read gives public-university ranks only, so we do not state a national overall position.[3] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of South Florida?
According to Wikipedia, USF has 14 colleges: Arts and Sciences; Behavioral and Community Sciences; the Muma College of Business; Education; Engineering; the Patel College of Global Sustainability; the Judy Genshaft Honors College; Marine Science; the Morsani College of Medicine; Nursing; the Taneja College of Pharmacy; Public Health; the College of The Arts; and the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing.[7] USF’s own page we read gives no programme count, so check the academics section of usf.edu.
How much does the University of South Florida cost in 2026–27?
| Per credit hour (fall 2026 to summer 2027) | Florida resident | Non-Florida resident |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $210.19 | $670.42 |
| Graduate | $430.43 | $994.29 |
| Graduate, business and engineering (all majors) | $466.34 | $1,030.20 |
These come from USF’s tuition rate sheets, which say that tuition is assessed by course level, not student classification, and that non-Florida residents pay the same fees as Florida residents plus out-of-state fees. A flat fee of $7 (arts and sciences), $10 (athletics) and $20 (student union) applies once per term. USF notes that the rates are for estimation only and subject to change.[4][5]
USF’s financial aid office estimates the following for 2026–27 for students living on campus (28 credit hours for undergraduates, 20 for graduates):[9]
| 2026–27 estimate | Undergraduate Florida | Undergraduate non-Florida | Graduate Florida | Graduate non-Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $5,960 | $18,846 | $8,682 | $19,960 |
| Housing | $9,638 | $9,638 | $9,638 | $9,638 |
| Food | $5,770 | $5,770 | $5,770 | $5,770 |
| Total cost of attendance | $27,248 | $40,134 | $29,922 | $41,200 |
The pages list “Florida resident” and “non-Florida resident” columns only; we found no separate international rate.
How do you apply to the University of South Florida?
First-year undergraduates. Applicants who completed secondary education outside the U.S. must submit documents confirming that they finished the equivalent of U.S. high school, including academic transcripts and exam results for all secondary work. The international freshman page cites minimum scores on a standardised test (see below).[6]
Graduate students. USF’s international graduate pages set the English minimums below. Applications with scores below the minimum are denied, and scores must have been earned within two years of the intended entry term.[10] Business and engineering graduate students pay the programmatic tuition rates shown above.[5]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. The pages we read did not describe the F-1 student visa process, so ask USF’s admissions office.
Which English level do you need?
First-year undergraduates from non-English-speaking countries must reach one of these minimum scores on a standardised test. USF states that it does not accept English proficiency tests such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo in their place:[6]
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| SAT | Reading and Writing 490 |
| ACT | English 17 and Reading 19 |
| CLT | Verbal Reasoning and Writing 38 |
Graduate applicants:[10]
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT, taken before 21 January 2026 | 79 |
| TOEFL iBT, taken after 21 January 2026 | 4.5 |
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| PTE Academic | 53 |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 |
Applicants from countries on USF’s English-speaking list need not submit scores, and the requirement can be waived with a grade of B or higher in the equivalents of ENC 101 and ENC 102 at a U.S. regionally accredited institution; other proofs are outlined in the USF catalogue.[10]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the University of South Florida cost for out-of-state students?
Can I use TOEFL or IELTS to apply as a first-year student at USF?
How many international students does USF have?
4,756 in fall 2025.[8]
Is the University of South Florida a public university?
More about studying in Florida
- Florida: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Florida
Sources
[1] University of South Florida: Facts and statistics (page without a date; footer 2026)
[2] xuanxiao.org: QS World University Rankings 2027, ranks 751–800 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (edition published 18 Jun 2026; band 761–770)
[3] Orlando Weekly: UCF drops in national rankings along with most Florida universities (reports U.S. News 2027) (article of 23 Sep 2026; public-university ranks only)
[4] University of South Florida Controller: Undergraduate tuition rates, fall 2026 to summer 2027 (PDF) (PDF created July 2026)
[5] University of South Florida Controller: Graduate tuition rates, fall 2026 to summer 2027 (PDF) (PDF created July 2026)
[6] USF Admissions: International freshman academic requirements (page without a date; footer 2026, cites the fall 2026 admitted student profile)
[7] Wikipedia: University of South Florida (history, classification, colleges and campuses)
[8] University of South Florida, International Services: Demographics (page without a date; fall 2025 figure)
[9] University of South Florida Financial Aid: 2026–27 cost of attendance, students living on campus (page without a calendar date)
[10] USF Admissions: International graduate academic requirements (page without a date; footer 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.