University of South Florida

Tampa, FL · founded 1956 · 50,000 students · public research university · American Athletic Conference

Known for: A high-research-activity university and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), recognized for its robust health sciences, marine science, and cybersecurity programs, and its significant economic impact on the Tampa Bay region.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #89
QS World: #651
Times Higher Education: #201
Forbes: #147

Top programmes

Health Sciences (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health)
Marine Science
Cybersecurity
Business
Engineering
Education

Notable alumni

Tony La Russa — Hall of Fame MLB manager
H. Lee Moffitt — Founder of the Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Lou Pearlman — Music producer for Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC (notorious)
John P. Gaughan — CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center
Chase Blackburn — Former NFL linebacker and special teams coordinator
Kenny Gant — Former NFL safety
B.J. Daniels — Former NFL quarterback
Allyson Felix — Olympic track and field gold medalist (attended but did not graduate)

Traditions

Bull Market (weekly campus vendor fair)
Homecoming Week and Stampede parade
Green & Gold Week
Running of the Bulls (homecoming 5K)

If University of South Florida were…

As a food: Bern's Steak House kitchen tour dessert room — Looks unassuming from outside but delivers serious substance once you're inside—Tampa's hidden powerhouse with world-class resources (especially health sciences) that outsiders consistently underestimate until they see t
As an athlete: Damian Lillard — Consistently excellent and putting up All-Star numbers in a market that doesn't get the national spotlight it deserves. Clutch when it matters (research output, medical training) but rarely the first name casual fans men
As a person alive today: Sanjay Gupta — Serious medical credentials, thrives in a diverse urban environment, communicates complex health information accessibly to the masses—exactly USF's brand as a health sciences juggernaut training practitioners for real-wo
As a historical figure: Jonas Salk — Built a research empire focused on practical medical breakthroughs that save lives at scale rather than chasing Ivy prestige—USF's Moffitt partnership and physician production mirror that utilitarian excellence.
As a movie or TV show: The Wire — Gritty, diverse, urban institution doing essential work that critics respect but doesn't get the glamorous press of prestige peers. Deeply embedded in its city's fabric, training people who actually run the systems that
As a US president: Lyndon B. Johnson — Big, ambitious, Sunbelt expansion-era energy focused on access and practical results (Great Society programs / physician training pipeline). Not the most elegant but gets massive things done for underserved populations.
As a city: Tampa — Literally is Tampa—a diverse, growing, underrated city with serious economic muscle (port, healthcare, finance) that people from older metros still don't quite take seriously despite all evidence they should.
As an element: Titanium — Strong, corrosion-resistant, essential in medical implants and aerospace applications but not a precious metal. USF is the workhorse element that actually builds things—medical devices, research breakthroughs—rather than
As a car: Honda CR-V — Practical, diverse, and optimized for Tampa's sprawling metro—USF excels at health sciences and research without pretension. A commuter-friendly workhorse that gets the job done for Florida's fastest-growing region.

Campus life

A large, diverse, and growing campus with a mix of traditional college life and strong commuter culture. The campus is active with student organizations, research opportunities, and a lively social scene bolstered by its location in a major metropolitan area.