University of South Florida (USF)

University of South Florida is a 4-year, public university in Tampa, Florida. USF offers more than 80 undergraduate majors, over 100 masters and specialists programs, 50 doctoral programs, a doctor of medicine and more.

University of South Florida Veteran and Military Support Programs

University of South Florida offers the following veteran and military support programs:

• University of South Florida is a GI Bill® approved school
• Has a Student Veterans of America chapter
• Offers credit for military experience
• Awards credit for the CLEP and DSST exams
• Approved for Tuition Assistance
• University of South Florida is a Yellow Ribbon school
• USF is not a MyCAA approved school.

The VCARE Nursing Program at USF is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing cohort created for service-members who have completed training as Army or Air Force medics and Navy corpsmen.  VCARE is a student-centered program that is tailored to each veteran, acknowledging and recognizing the training and experience that each one brings.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a public research university in Tampa, Florida. Named because it is the southernmost state university in Florida. Founded in 1956, their main campus is in Tampa, with two other campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee.

There are more than 50,000 students that attend the university and it offers over 180 undergraduate majors and concentrations. The University of South Florida ranks as the 46th best public university in America. 

Message from USF

The University of South Florida is a high-impact, global research university located in beautiful Tampa Bay on Florida's spectacular west coast. It is one of the largest public universities in the nation, and among the top 50 universities, public or private, for federal research expenditures.

The university is 1 of only 4 Florida public universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the top tier of research universities, a distinction attained by only 2.3% of all universities.

With over 230 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialty and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine, there's something for everyone at USF. The university offers a dynamic learning environment that inspires innovation, creativity and collaboration and is focused on student success.

USF History

The University of South Florida was founded in 1956, with their first day of classes being in 1960. The university was the first major state university that was planned, built, and opened in the 20th century. In 1963, they had their first commencement ceremony with 326 graduates. 

In 1965, they opened the St. Petersburg camps as well as the first medical school. They offered their first doctoral degree in 1971, and in 1972, the College of Basic Studies was dissolved. The College of Liberal Arts was then split into four new colleges, the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Natural Sciences, and the College of Fine Arts. 

In 1973, the school of nursing opened, and in 1980, the graduate school was created. In 2020, they consolidated the three separate institutions into one. Tampa is the biggest campus with 40,000 students, and the other two campuses make for a smaller college experience.