University of South Florida
University of South Florida — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of South Florida at a Glance
The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, United States, and another campus in St. Petersburg. USF did own a campus in Sarasota, however, a Florida budget deal transferred ownership of the campus from USF to New College of Florida on July 1, 2026. It is one of 12 members of the State University System of Florida. USF is home to 14 colleges, offering more than 240 undergraduate, graduate, specialist, and doctoral-level de…
1956
70 years old
$768M
$768 million (FY 2025)
50,000
36,452 undergrad · 10,802 grad
2,301
1,646 acres
Identity
Is University of South Florida Worth It?
University of South Florida is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $9,812/year net price and $57,743 median earnings, graduates earn 5.9× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 76% graduation rate means roughly 24% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: University of South Florida delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of South Florida compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 11 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of South Florida | 100 | $9,812 | $57,743 |
| #2 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #3 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #4 | University of Central Florida | 100 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| #5 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #6 | San Diego State University | 82 | $15,364 | $64,909 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of South Florida's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in FL.
Best Programs at University of South Florida
The highest-earning program at University of South Florida is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $62,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $20,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from University of South Florida earns $62,900, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $20,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $19,810 in median debt vs. $19,750 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,812/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $62,900 | $62,900 | $19,810 |
| Computer Engineering | $62,600 | $62,600 | $20,044 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $60,300 | $60,300 | $17,522 |
| Chemical Engineering | $57,900 | $57,900 | $17,804 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $57,500 | $57,500 | $21,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $53,800 | $53,800 | $23,725 |
| Civil Engineering | $53,500 | $53,500 | $21,237 |
| Industrial Engineering | $52,500 | $52,500 | $22,125 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $50,800 | $50,800 | $20,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $44,800 | $44,800 | $19,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $41,900 | $41,900 | $18,642 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $40,100 | $40,100 | $17,770 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $40,000 | $40,000 | $20,807 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $39,900 | $39,900 | $18,150 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $39,800 | $39,800 | $18,358 |
| Economics | $38,300 | $38,300 | $21,705 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $37,400 | $37,400 | $23,500 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $37,400 | $37,400 | $17,801 |
| Mathematics | $37,000 | $37,000 | $19,643 |
| Marketing | $36,200 | $36,200 | $16,950 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $35,800 | $35,800 | $22,822 |
| International Business | $34,200 | $34,200 | $15,997 |
| Chemistry | $33,700 | $33,700 | $16,474 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $33,200 | $33,200 | $15,250 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $32,400 | $32,400 | $18,862 |
| Criminology | $31,900 | $31,900 | $18,750 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $31,800 | $31,800 | $20,850 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,300 | $31,300 | $18,801 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $31,000 | $31,000 | $21,000 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $31,000 | $31,000 | N/A |
| Public Health | $30,300 | $30,300 | $20,367 |
| Political Science and Government | $30,100 | $30,100 | $21,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $29,900 | $29,900 | $16,220 |
| Social Work | $29,800 | $29,800 | $15,984 |
| Social Sciences, General | $29,000 | $29,000 | $24,500 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $29,000 | $29,000 | $18,750 |
| Sociology | $28,800 | $28,800 | $21,871 |
| Human Services, General | $28,600 | $28,600 | $18,806 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $28,500 | $28,500 | $15,000 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $28,000 | $28,000 | $27,797 |
| Psychology, General | $28,000 | $28,000 | $18,327 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,700 | $26,700 | $18,831 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $26,700 | $26,700 | $16,325 |
| History | $26,700 | $26,700 | $19,172 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $26,100 | $26,100 | $16,943 |
| Biology, General | $25,700 | $25,700 | $18,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $24,900 | $24,900 | $19,358 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $23,000 | $23,000 | $19,585 |
| Anthropology | $22,900 | $22,900 | $19,199 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $20,800 | $20,800 | $20,042 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $20,300 | $20,300 | $19,750 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Tampa, FL
- Student Body
- 37,207 students
- Admission Rate
- 43%
- Graduation Rate
- 76%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,812
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $57,743
- Median Student Debt
- $17,988