University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida · Public · 43.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 78/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of South Florida is a large public research university in Tampa, Florida, enrolling approximately 37,207 students. It earns an overall ROI score of 78 - Strong Value - anchored by an earnings premium subscore of 92 and a 77% completion rate. Average six-year earnings of $39,400 and median ten-year earnings of $57,743 reflect a 58% earnings premium over high-school-only workers - a compelling signal of the Florida labor market's appetite for USF graduates. In-state tuition of just $6,410 and a net price of $9,812 make it affordable. Median debt of $17,988 is low, and the payback period of 7.9 years is competitive. The repayment rate subscore of 28 (only 66% making progress) is the main drag, suggesting that a meaningful share of lower-earning graduates struggle with debt - partly a reflection of the diversity of program outcomes. USF's classification as a preeminent university in Florida's system has elevated its research profile and national recruitment reach in recent years.
University of South Florida scores in the top 15% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of South Florida
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,410/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,324/yr |
| Average net price | $9,812/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $39,248 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,743 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,988 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $191 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 76.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 37,207 |
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: $6,410/year ($17,324/year out-of-state), 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 $9,812/year, or roughly $39,248 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 $4,122/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,497/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,988, which works out to about $191 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,400) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $4,122 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,444 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,326 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,224 |
| $110,001+ | $18,497 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $4,122. With median debt of only $17,988 and engineering or nursing salaries starting above $70,000, low-income students who access USF's strongest programs face an extremely favorable financial scenario. The completion rate of 77% is encouraging, but students should connect with academic support services early.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay $9,326 in net price. At this level, the earnings premium and low debt profile create a payback period well under ten years for most programs. Florida's Bright Futures scholarship can further reduce effective cost for qualifying students.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income in-state families ($110,000-plus) pay $18,497 in net price. Even at near-sticker, USF's engineering and nursing programs deliver payback in five to six years for high-earning graduates. Out-of-state students face $17,324 tuition and should model their specific program's outcomes carefully, as the value case is strongest for Florida residents benefiting from state aid and Bright Futures.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of South Florida with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $49,395 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $56,452 | C |
| Psychology | $47,257 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $84,694 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $73,933 | B |
| Political Science and Government | $53,883 | C+ |
| Marketing | $65,269 | C+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $64,838 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,810 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $90,953 | B |
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
Nursing is USF's largest clinical program with 479 annual graduates. One-year median earnings of $72,879 and four-year earnings of $84,694 are strong, reflecting Tampa's large and growing healthcare sector. Against $22,452 in median debt, the ratio of 0.31 earns a B+ grade. At an in-state tuition of $6,410, USF nursing offers an exceptional return.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering graduates earn $83,660 one year out and $109,054 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 earns a B+ grade. With 51 graduates annually, this program feeds Tampa's growing technology and fintech sector. At USF's in-state net price, computer engineering represents an extraordinary value.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering graduates earn $78,825 one year out and $102,275 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 earns a B+ grade against $24,000 in median debt. The 89 annual graduates benefit from Tampa's defense technology, energy infrastructure, and healthcare device manufacturing sectors. USF's proximity to MacDill Air Force Base creates additional defense-sector recruitment pathways.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates earn $49,906 one year out and $73,933 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 earns a B grade. With 465 annual graduates - among USF's largest programs - this is a significant pipeline into Tampa's regional financial services industry. Early earnings are modest, but the four-year trajectory to nearly $74,000 reflects career progression in commercial banking, wealth management, and corporate finance roles.
Management Information Systems
MIS graduates earn $55,972 one year out and $83,227 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 earns a B+ grade - one of USF's strongest by this metric. The 189 annual graduates fill technology operations and enterprise systems roles across Tampa's large healthcare, finance, and logistics employer base. MIS at this price point is an excellent credential for students who want technology careers with business-facing roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 59.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of South Florida’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 | 43.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-29 |
| Enrollment | 37,207 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 29.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,342 |
USF admitted 43% of applicants with SAT math mid-range of 550 - 660, reading of 580 - 660, and ACT composite of 24 - 29. The institution has become more selective over the past decade as enrollment demand has grown. Florida's Bright Futures scholarship significantly reduces net price for qualifying residents, making USF's effective cost even lower for high-achieving in-state students. Transfer students from Florida's state college system benefit from well-established articulation guarantees.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
USF's earnings premium subscore is 92.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Florida (this school) | 78 | $9,812 | $57,743 |
| California State University-Long Beach | 86 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| University of Central Florida | 79 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| Auburn University | 76 | $24,323 | $65,337 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 73 | $18,976 | $60,249 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 28 | $13,739 | $44,349 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of South Florida side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
USF suits students seeking a large, research-active public university in a dynamic urban environment at an affordable Florida public price. The 43% admission rate is moderately selective. With 29% of students receiving Pell Grants, the institution serves a significant proportion of financially limited students. The SAT mid-range of 550 - 660 in math and 580 - 660 in reading signals a competitive but accessible admissions pool. Students focused on engineering, nursing, or business will find strong career infrastructure and internship access in Tampa's growing economy.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of South Florida pays off. You'd pay about $9,812 a year after aid ($39,248 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $57,743 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 76.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 65.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $17,988 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, 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.
University of South Florida: Common Questions
Is University of South Florida worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of South Florida pays off. It scores 78/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $9,812 a year after aid ($39,248 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $57,743 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.9 years to earn back.
How much does University of South Florida 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 $9,812 a year, or roughly $39,248 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 University of South Florida graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,743 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,943 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 University of South Florida?
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 7.9 years for University of South Florida. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of South Florida graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,988, against average earnings of $39,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. 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 University of South Florida?
The six-year graduation rate is 76.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.