The University of South Florida (USF) is a relatively young school; it was founded in 1956. But in the seven decades since, it has established itself as a top-performing university. It's consistently ranked among the best public universities in the country, and it's recognized for its science, health and medical programs.
The USF Research Park focuses on biotechnology and life sciences research; other academic institutes and centers across the campus study mental health, migrant education, and urban transportation. Undergrads can get in on the action as well, and USF provides plenty of resources and guidance to get them started. All this opportunity comes with an affordable price tag for the university's large and diverse student body, with the estimated price of a degree far below comparable colleges.
The school has over 50,000 students spread across three campuses: the main campus in Tampa, and two smaller ones in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. USF’s Tampa campus, where a majority of its 50,000 students study, is often referred to as "a city within a city," a reference to its more than 700 student organizations and 17 NCAA Division I sports teams. In fact, in recent years, Money has recognized Tampa as both a Best Place to Live and a Best Place to Travel.
