University of South Florida

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University of South Florida Degree Programs

The University of South Florida appears in our ranking of 30 Great Colleges With An Increasing Student Population.

The University of South Florida offers degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels on virtually every subject available for study in modern higher education. Popular majors include those in health professions, business, biological and biomedical sciences, social sciences, and engineering. Some of the colleges and schools which offer the university’s programs include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Muma College of Business, the College of Engineering, and the College of Graduate Studies. Students may also find their programs at the College of the Arts, College of Pharmacy, Morsani College of Medicine, or the College of Public Health.

The first commencement ceremony at the University of South Florida occurred in 1963 when the school awarded 325 degrees. Today, the university regularly awards more than 11,000 degrees at each commencement ceremony. Some of the areas of study available to students include Applied Science, Behavioral Healthcare, General Studies, Interdisciplinary Social Studies, and Science Education. Within the large and varied offerings of Applied Science, some of the degrees include those in Deaf Studies, Behavioral Healthcare, Gerontology, Information Technology, Public Health, Urban Studies, Leadership Studies, and Criminal Justice. Students can also enroll in Deaf Studies under Communication Sciences, as well as consider Interpreter Training or Language-Speech-Hearing Science for their major.

The university not only offers degrees at various levels, but it also offers students the chance to study online from anywhere. One of the unique facets of the online programs at the University of Southern Florida is that study is also available as individual classes. Students who have busy schedules can take single classes over time to complete their degree. Students take their online classes through the Electronic Campus and Florida Virtual Campus. Some of the online undergraduate degrees include the Bachelor of Science in Applied Sciences – Information Studies and the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. Online graduate degrees include a Master of Arts in Library and Information Sciences, a Master of Arts in Gerontology, and a Master of Arts in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Intellectual Disabilities.

To help students choose the best possible degree, the university recommends that students download helpful smartphone applications, attend the university’s Career Fair Plus, and consider a Co-Op Experience or Internship during their time spent at the University of South Florida. The university also offers assistance for students who aren’t sure what major will afford them the best career opportunities and offers assistance through Career Services. Once a student has chosen a major and degree program, he or she will declare a major with the department that offers that degree. Students will need to complete an online form with the college to declare their major. For example, Engineering students would submit their application to the College of Engineering, and Nursing students would attend an information session with the College of Nursing.

About the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida was established in 1956 and is a public research university located in Tampa, Florida. The school is part of the State University System of Florida and has a significant population of more than 50,000 students. Even with its large population, the university is only the fourth-largest in the state. The school’s programs are housed within 14 colleges that offer 80 majors for undergraduate students and 130 degrees for graduate, specialist, and doctoral students. The school’s urban campus in Tampa covers 1,913 acres. The school’s official colors are gold and green. The sports teams are nicknamed the Bulls, and the school’s mascot is Rocky the Bull. Students participate in NCAA Division I games.

University of South Florida Accreditation Details

The regional accreditation agency for the University of South Florida is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Students who have questions about the university’s accreditation can contact the organization directly, which is located in Decatur, Georgia. Departments, degrees, and programs at the university are also accredited by other agencies. Within the College of Pharmacy, the Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Within the College of Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has accredited the school’s programs in education. The American Psychological Association Committee on Accreditation has accredited by the School of Psychology’s programs, and the program is also recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists.

University of South Florida Application Requirements

Students interested in attending the University of South Florida will submit their application materials for study as a freshman or enrollment as a transfer, graduate, or international student. The university also accepts applications for continuing education applications and students interested in enrollment as a health student. The university currently has an application fee-waiver option for applicants who have been impacted by Hurricane Michael. To apply, undergraduate students will submit official transcripts, complete the official application, submit an application fee of $30, and submit standardized test scores from the ACT or SAT. Admission requirements for graduate students including having a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school, a minimum GPA of at least 3.00 on all undergraduate courses or graduate coursework, and proof of English language proficiency for international students.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of attendance for in-state students at the University of South Florida is $22,035, and the cost for out-of-state students is $32,949. Those figures include $22,035 for tuition for in-state students, $10,325 for room and board, $1,200 for books and supplies, and $4,100 for other expenses. Out-of-state students will pay increased tuition of $17,324. Tuition for graduate students is $347.91 per credit, and out-of-state students will pay an additional fee of $424.52 per credit for tuition. Other fees graduate students may need to pay include a technology fee, capital improvement fee, health fee, athletic fee, and a student financial aid fee.

Students have until the first of January to submit their FAFSA form for financial aid consideration, and doing so may qualify the student to receive a variety of financial aid types. Federal student loans, grants, scholarships, private loans, and Work-Study awards are possible and depend on the student’s financial need and academic qualifications. Available scholarships come from the University of South Florida fellowships, Bright Future Scholarships, and other scholarship opportunities. Students interested in any of the degree programs at the University of South Florida should contact the department where their chosen program is housed to learn more about possible fellowships, scholarships, and grants for tuition assistance.