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University of South Florida
University of South Florida admits a bit under 50% of applicants; strong grades put you in the conversation at University of South Florida, and the data below says what "strong" means.
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University of South Florida sits in Tampa proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 8% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $109,054 four years out. 29.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 37,207 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 91.3% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1140 and 1330 — above the FL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of South Florida's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of South Florida received 65,187 applications and admitted 26,699 (41%), with 5,803 enrolling.
Test scores are a required part of every application here. That makes the 1140–1330 range unusually informative: everyone admitted is in the data.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 580 | 620 | 670 |
| SAT Math | 560 | 610 | 660 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 26 | 29 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of South Florida compares
| University of South Florida | Florida median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 43.2% | 64.8% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $6,410 | $19,975 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $57,743 | $48,082 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors University of South Florida: $57,743 median at year ten, versus $48,082 across Florida institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $6,410 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $17,324. For non-residents, University of South Florida's $17,324 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
University of South Florida is a big school: 37,207 undergraduates at last count.
76.8% of University of South Florida students finish a bachelor's within six years — 21.9 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $6,410 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of South Florida
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $109,054 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $102,275 |
| Chemical Engineering | $94,387 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $90,953 |
| Industrial Engineering | $90,040 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,249 |
| Civil Engineering | $84,789 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $84,694 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $83,227 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $78,918 |
| Statistics | $74,071 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $73,933 |
| Physics | $68,967 |
| Economics | $67,007 |
| International Business | $66,141 |
| Marketing | $65,269 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $64,838 |
| Political Science and Government | $64,820 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,600 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $60,472 |
| Chemistry | $59,942 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $59,587 |
| Mathematics | $59,125 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $58,999 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $57,695 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $57,628 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $56,452 |
| Geography and Cartography | $54,944 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $54,778 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $54,770 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $53,991 |
| Criminology | $53,883 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,810 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | $53,756 |
| Public Health | $53,560 |
| Social Work | $52,451 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $52,093 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $51,759 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $51,650 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $51,378 |
| Philosophy | $49,561 |
| Biology, General | $49,395 |
| Social Sciences, General | $47,969 |
| History | $47,936 |
| Sociology | $47,379 |
| Psychology, General | $47,257 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $46,115 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $45,671 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $45,178 |
| Anthropology | $44,283 |
| Human Services, General | $43,976 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $43,813 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,820 |
| Dance | $33,269 |
Median earnings for these 54 University of South Florida programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $57,743 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 26 additional University of South Florida programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of South Florida?
Among the admitted class, the middle 50% scored 1140–1330 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 43.2% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of South Florida's acceptance rate?
41% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 26,699 admitted from 65,187 applicants.
How much does University of South Florida cost?
In-state tuition is $6,410; out-of-state students pay $17,324. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of South Florida graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $57,743 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Florida
- Southeastern University — 53% admitted
- Rollins College — 47.5% admitted
- The University of Tampa — 40.3% admitted
- Trinity College of Jacksonville — 53.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.