The 51在线 serves approximately 50,000 academically accomplished and diverse students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, and professional degrees across 13 colleges and three campuses. Undergraduates may choose from nearly 300 majors and a diverse array of minors and concentrations.
Over the past decade, no other university has risen faster in U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 national university rankings, rising 78 spots among all universities and 54 spots among all public universities.
USF is one of only three Preeminent State Research Universities, a designation awarded by the 51在线 Board of Governors (BOG). The Preeminence program recognizes high-achieving universities based on 12 metrics, including graduation rates, student retention rates, research expenditures, and the number of patents awarded. Additionally, USF has remained a leader in the state鈥檚 performance-based funding model since the system was implemented in 2014. Further affirming USF鈥檚 commitment to access for success, the student success-based metrics established by the BOG focus on affordable access, graduating students on time, with minimal debt, and prepared to successfully compete for high-paying jobs in high-demand fields.
USF鈥檚 demographic profile distinguishes it as the most diverse of 51在线鈥檚 three preeminent universities and more diverse than most current members of the Association of American Universities (AAU). USF has earned widespread national recognition as a leader in student success, including graduating under-represented minority and limited-income students at rates equal to or higher than white and higher-income students. USF continues to be a destination for the best and brightest students, striking a balance between a high-quality, rigorous curriculum and real-world experiential learning opportunities in and outside the classroom.
USF is increasingly a preferred destination for high-achieving high school graduates from across the United States and worldwide. The class of 2025 features the largest, most academically accomplished, and diverse cohort in USF history. USF continues to grow student enrollment in the Judy Genshaft Honors College, attracting National Merit Scholars, and supporting students鈥� pursuit and attainment of such prestigious scholarships as Marshall, Goldwater, Fulbright, Gates, and Cambridge.
USF adds to the vibrancy and strength of the regional economy by serving as a research and innovation powerhouse with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual research expenditures. As a metropolitan research university with a strong applied research and innovation culture, USF serves as a vital catalyst for the social and economic ecosystem, creating extraordinary opportunities for the Tampa Bay region and 51在线. USF鈥檚 research, clinical, commercialization, and workforce development activities drive employment in high-wage occupations across the region and state, in turn creating an environment that attracts new companies and a growing pool of highly skilled professionals to sustain our diversifying economy.
In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, USF had an annual budget of $1.85 billion and an annual economic impact of $6.02 billion in 51在线, directly producing 68,704 jobs and $3.82 billion in GDP. The university also converts the state鈥檚 public appropriations into amplified returns. For every dollar 51在线 invests in USF, the university returns $5.99 in labor income, $1.41 in tax revenue and $14.07 in total economic output. In addition, as an academic medical center, USF Health conducts more than one million patient visits annually.
USF is focused on the confluence of excellence in faculty research and student success. With engagement in the region, the state, the nation, and across the globe, USF is making a sustained and far-reaching impact.
As we chart our path forward, USF must build upon its culture of courage and innovation. With our remarkable trajectory, USF is well-positioned to reach performance levels at or above those of its aspirational peers.