The University of Tampa
Tampa, Florida · Private Nonprofit · 40.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 49/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Tampa scores 49 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale - a result that reflects a private-nonprofit institution with a challenging value profile. The 63.7% completion rate is a significant drag: over a third of students who enroll do not graduate. Net price of $36,211 is notably high - nearly the entire sticker price - signaling weak institutional grant aid. Median debt of $24,211 against $42,300 average earnings produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.572. Registered Nursing is the clear exception: 76 graduates, $71,478 year-one, $89,223 four-year, earning a B grade. The bottom third of the program distribution is severe: Drama/Theatre Arts has a 1.512 debt-to-earnings ratio (F grade); Health Sciences General earns an F. With programs like Marketing (171 graduates) posting $43,825 year-one and Political Science (136 graduates) at $34,137 year-one, the large enrollment in low-ROI programs defines much of the institution's aggregate outcome. Tampa's location is appealing, but the financial data suggests students are paying a premium for lifestyle that the earnings data does not recoup quickly.
The University of Tampa
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,408/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,408/yr |
| Average net price | $36,211/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $144,844 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,436 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,211 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,572 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $34,408/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $36,211/year, or roughly $144,844 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $30,011/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,975/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,211, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,300) and comes to 0.57, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $30,011 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,513 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $31,898 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $34,691 |
| $110,001+ | $37,975 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the $0-$30,000 income bracket pay $30,011 per year at UT. This means very little institutional grant aid reaches the lowest-income students. At $30k net price for a family earning under $30,000, the burden is extreme.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $31,898 per year, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $34,691 - near the full sticker price. UT's aid model does not significantly discount for middle-income families. Against average 6-year earnings of $42,300 and a 63.7% completion rate, middle-income families are taking on meaningful risk relative to the cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $37,975 per year at UT. At roughly $152,000 over four years, against $42,300 average 6-year earnings, the ROI case is poor unless the student enters a high-earning program like Nursing or Finance. The location appeal of Tampa Bay does not show up in earnings data.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at The University of Tampa with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $69,876 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $90,485 | C+ |
| Political Science and Government | $60,742 | D |
| Psychology | $53,744 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $72,531 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,521 | C |
| Biology | $59,432 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,512 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $60,364 | D |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,368 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is the clear high-ROI program at UT: 76 graduates, $71,478 year-one, $89,223 at year four, B-grade (debt-to-earnings 0.378). The Tampa Bay healthcare market absorbs nursing graduates quickly. Median debt of $27,000 against $71k year-one is manageable. This is the program at UT that most clearly justifies the net price.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance at UT enrolls 146 graduates: $51,845 year-one, $90,485 at year four, C+-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.501) with median debt of $26,000. The year-four figure of $90k is strong for this program level, suggesting finance graduates who stay in the profession advance well. Against a $36,211 net price, however, the C+ grade reflects adequate but not compelling returns.
Marketing
Marketing is one of UT's largest programs at 171 graduates: $43,825 year-one, $69,876 at year four, C-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.593). Year-one earnings of $43k against $36,211 net price means most marketing graduates are spending more annually on education than they earn in their first year. The four-year trajectory to nearly $70k improves the picture, but the early-career cash flow is genuinely tight.
Biology
Biology at UT earns a D-grade ROI: 99 graduates, $32,909 year-one, $59,432 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.790 with median debt of $26,000. Year-one earnings of $33k while carrying $26,000 in debt creates a very difficult start. Most biology graduates at private universities are on pre-professional paths to medical or dental school, which adds multiple years of cost beyond the undergraduate degree. That full cost picture is not in this data.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The University of Tampa’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 40.3% |
| Enrollment | 10,572 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,846 |
University of Tampa admits 40.3% of applicants, placing it in the moderately selective category. SAT and ACT score ranges are not reported in Scorecard data. The location premium and campus environment attract many students who are choosing on factors other than academic selectivity. Students with clear professional goals in healthcare or business will find relatively strong program-level support; students in liberal arts or sciences should be more cautious about the value proposition.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tampa (this school) | 49 | $36,211 | $59,436 |
| National University | 64 | $22,878 | $67,548 |
| Wilmington University | 51 | $15,644 | $53,844 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Howard University | 41 | $50,539 | $63,066 |
| Baptist University of Florida | 31 | $10,372 | $42,836 |
Who Thrives Here
University of Tampa admits 40.3% of applicants. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges for UT. With 10,572 undergraduates, it is a medium-sized university for a private institution. Tampa's campus location on the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa is a strong draw. The 63.7% completion rate indicates meaningful attrition. Students should assess whether they are entering a high-ROI program (Nursing, Accounting, Finance) or a lower-ROI program (Politics, Biology, Theatre) before committing at a $36,211 net price.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for The University of Tampa is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $36,211 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $59,436 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $24,211 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
The University of Tampa: Common Questions
Is The University of Tampa worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. The University of Tampa scores 49/100 on our ROI scale. At $36,211 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $59,436 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does The University of Tampa cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $36,211 a year, or roughly $144,844 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do The University of Tampa graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,436 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,636 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off The University of Tampa?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.7 years for The University of Tampa. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The University of Tampa graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,211, against average earnings of $42,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Tampa?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.