University of South Florida College Portrait
University of South Florida4202 E. Fowler Avenue Tampa, FL 33620
813-974-2011
University of South Florida
Founded in 1956, the University of South Florida is one of Florida’s top three public research universities. USF provides undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to participate in research and to seek solutions to local, national and global problems through 234 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. USF is committed to providing students with high quality learning opportunities, building community and business partnerships, and research for discovery and innovation with a focus on these strategic priorities: Student Success, Research and Innovation, Community Engagement, Global Literacy and Impact, and Integrated, Interdisciplinary Inquiry.
Living in the Bulls Community
The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top public research universities that works to ensure a comprehensive premiere student-centered learning environment. USF is committed to providing a variety of programs that are integrated and engaging for students, all of which will contribute to student success. USF is a channel for knowledge, expertise, exposure and development, and strives to provide the bridge from the academic experience inside and outside of the classroom into the global community. The university is committed to the personal, social, civic, leadership, physical, character and intellectual development of its students as they live and learn in this diverse community. With over 500 student organizations ranging from social to academic, political to religious, and 91 undergraduate and 142 graduate majors, students have the opportunity to get involved and develop their academic, leadership, and interpersonal skills that will support learning beyond graduation.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
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| Total Students | 40,431 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 30,914 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 17,419 | 56% |
| Men | 13,495 | 44% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 127 | <1% |
| Asian | 1,984 | 6% |
| African American / Black | 3,726 | 12% |
| Hispanic | 5,253 | 17% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 25 | <1% |
| White | 18,472 | 60% |
| Two or More Races | 274 | 1% |
| International | 505 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 548 | 2% |
| Where do USF undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Florida | 95% |
| Other US States & Territories | 5% |
| Other Countries | <1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are USF undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 23 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 17% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 22 - 27 | |
| Math | 520 - 620 | |
| Critical Reading | 510 - 610 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 57% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 81% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 100% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.64 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $18,298
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend University of South Florida varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 7% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $6,129. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 35% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,834. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
USF Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 28 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 49% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 73% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 1,129 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 43% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 26% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 81% |
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Campus-based Housing
82% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
18% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The University of South Florida considers safety a priority and works to maintain a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. USF approaches campus safety from a multidimensional and shared approach, and has recently developed a Division of Public Safety which includes University Police, Emergency Management, Security and Parking Enforcement. Ensuring emergency preparedness, response to and investigation of crimes and providing public service and a safe campus environment is the university’s commitment.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Medium full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at USF
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 88% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 52% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 13% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 78% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 13% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 36% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 50% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 8% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 90% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 92% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 67% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 49% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 93% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 49% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 74% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 92% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 64% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 64% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 85% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 59% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 83% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 84% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 82% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of South Florida in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Associate's | 157 |
| Bachelor's | 6,597 |
| Master's | 2,259 |
| Doctoral | 400 |
| Total | 9,413 |
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| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 21% |
| SOCIAL SCIENCES | 17% |
| COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES | 11% |
| EDUCATION | 8% |
| PSYCHOLOGY | 8% |
| Links to degree programs at University of South Florida |
|---|
Associate'sBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Future Plans of 2009-10 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 84% four-year success and progress rate means that 84% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 4,654 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 3,763 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 88%
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Student Learning at University of South Florida
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The University of South Florida is committed to providing an undergraduate learning experience that emphasizes critical thinking and communication skills, as well as disciplinary knowledge. The assessment of student learning process has a critical role in assuring that the learning outcomes are met, while simultaneously striving for higher levels of accomplishment. Beginning in the general education curriculum, the Foundations of Knowledge and Learning, and continuing throughout the major, student learning is measured with a variety of methods. Key to USF’s assessment approaches is application. To be sure, students take tests, both locally and externally developed, but they also demonstrate their knowledge and facility with this knowledge through such methods as projects, written and oral assignments, internships, service learning contributions and portfolios.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
This university is in the process of collecting and analyzing learning outcomes test results.