university of south florida accreditation

University of South Florida Degree Options

The University of South Florida appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable MPH Online Programs.

The University of South Florida in Tampa offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs with virtually all programs available on campus and some programs offered online. There are fourteen colleges that operate within the university and include degree-granting colleges like the College of Behavioral & Community Science and the College of Engineering, as well as a College of Medicine, College of Graduate Studies, and the Honors College.

Some of the most popular academic pursuits at the university include the programs in health professions, business, biology, social sciences, and engineering. The university’s freshman retention rate is 90 percent, and the student-faculty ratio is 22:1, with around 44 percent of the classes offered with fewer than 20 students enrolled.

Students who choose to enroll in online study can pursue full degree programs, or they can take individual online courses. Some of the areas of study available to undergraduate students at the University of South Florida include a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sciences in Information Studies, a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sciences in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN to BS, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology.

The majority of online programs offered by USF Online are graduate programs and include programs like the Master of Arts in Gerontology, the Master of Science in Intelligence Studies – Cyber Intelligence, and the Master of Arts in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Intellectual Disabilities. There is also a doctoral program available online that leads to a Ph.D. in Career & Workforce Education.

The university also offers some courses that feature a hybrid approach where some instruction is handled online, and there are additional requirements on campus or at laboratory sites. For example, students can enroll in the Keys Marine Lab program, which offers instruction in marine ecology and features online learning, as well as a week of on-site work at the university’s marine lab in the Florida Keys.

About the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida is part of the state’s university system and has more than 50,000 students enrolled, which makes it one of the largest universities in the state. The school was founded in 1956. It operates a campus of 1,913 acres in Tampa, Florida. The university has earned impressive awards for its research spending with a rank of 43rd on a list put together by the National Science Foundation.

The university is also classified as an R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity. It was recently awarded more than $400 million in research funds. The official colors at the university are gold and green, and student-athletes are nicknamed the Bulls when they participate in the American Conference in NCAA Division I games. The school’s official mascot is named Rocky the Bull.

University of South Florida Accreditation Details

The University of South Florida is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Regional accreditation allows the university to award college degrees from the associate to the doctoral level. Students can contact the commission directly at their office in Georgia for information on the university’s current accreditation status. Some programs are additionally accredited by organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Approvals come from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the National Association of Schools of Theatre. Further approvals have been granted by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., and the American Physical Therapy Association.

University of South Florida Application Requirements

Applicants to the University of South Florida should know that admission to the university is considered competitive and that the GPA of admitted students usually ranges from 3.9 to 4.4. The university examines the subject areas of the student’s high school curriculum, and whether those classes include honors study, dual enrollment, or advanced placement. All students should submit SAT or ACT scores, but the university only requires one or the other for admission.

The average student enrolled at the university has an SAT around 1230 to 1350 or an ACT of 27 to 30. The university takes the student’s highest submitted standardized test score during the admissions process. To apply, students should submit the official application, a $30 application fee, and official copies of transcripts and standardized test scores.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The university has been recognized by publications like “U.S. News & World Report” and “Kiplinger’s Personal Finance” as an institution with affordable tuition when rates are compared to other universities. Undergraduate students who are Florida residents will pay $6,410 for full-time tuition and fees, and out-of-state residents will pay $17,324 for tuition and fees. Additional costs may include housing and meals for $11,836 and books and supplies for $1,100.

For graduate students, the rate for Florida residents for full-time study is $7,840, and the rate for out-of-state students is $15,864. Students may also pay $12,858 for housing and meals, $900 for books and supplies, and $4,100 for miscellaneous expenses. In all, in-state graduate students should expect to pay $25,698 for attending the University of South Florida for a year, and out-of-state students should expect to pay $33,722.

Students will work with the Office of Financial Aid at the University of South Florida to secure funds that will help pay for tuition. Financial aid may include loans, grants, and scholarships, and some students may even qualify for offers of employment with the university. Students who want to earn scholarships will complete a questionnaire from the university, which will help students figure out which awards to pursue.

Available funds may come from the Bright Futures scholarship, various USF Foundation scholarships, or USF fellowships. Students should begin early in their quest for financial aid by submitting their FAFSA form as soon after October 1st as possible, which is when the application becomes available. The University of South Florida will send information to the student about available awards, as well as requests for any additional documents needed to confirm or complete the financial aid application process.