About USF St. Petersburg Campus
The USF St. Petersburg campus is where discovery shines.
Situated on 52 acres of waterfront in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, our close-knit campus offers an intimate experience with the benefits of attending a large institution.
Along with small class sizes and ample opportunities for engagement with faculty and peers, our students enjoy membership in a top-50 public university, including state-of-the-art facilities and academic resources, American Athletic Conference athletics and an expansive alumni network. Come find out why the USF St. Petersburg campus is right for you.
Extraordinary Education
We’re driven by student success. The USF St. Petersburg campus offers a wide range of affordable majors, minors, graduate degrees and certificate programs to meet individual needs. In addition to traditional programs in the liberal arts, sciences, business and education, students can pursue specialized programs in disciplines such as sustainability, digital journalism, brewing arts and more.
Our dedicated faculty are experts in their fields who are committed to innovative research and providing extraordinary educational experiences. In recognition of this commitment, former Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock was awarded the 2021 President’s Award from NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, which honors prominent higher education and student affairs leaders.
Hands-On Experience
Students on the USF St. Petersburg campus don’t just sit on the sidelines. They are actively involved in research, job-shadowing and internship programs that enhance their academic experience and enrich the surrounding community. Many undergraduates get the chance to co-author journal articles with professors in fields ranging from biology to business, a rare opportunity that positions those students well for future job placement or admission to graduate school.
First-year students can participate in a job-shadowing program called Innovation Scholars, which matches them with mentors from businesses in downtown St. Petersburg. This exciting program has drawn praise from both students and business leaders and is believed to be the only one of its kind in Florida.
Waterfront Location in a vibrant city
The USF St. Petersburg campus combines natural beauty with the appeal of city life. Living and studying on campus puts students within walking distance to world-class museums and dining options in a vibrant and dynamic downtown. Dubbed the “Sunshine City,” St. Petersburg is home to some of the country’s best beaches and a community where both small and big businesses thrive.
Through our strong community partnerships, students have access to internship opportunities at some of the most impactful organizations in the region, from healthcare and finance to technology and the arts.
Celebrating Diversity
On the USF St. Petersburg campus, we celebrate diversity and promote inclusion at all levels of our community. We are dedicated to empowering students to prosper by closing the achievement gap regardless of race, background, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or socioeconomic status.
Our Campus-Community Task Force on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity works collaboratively to create a welcoming climate and sense of belonging that is safe, affirming, and inviting for all students, staff, faculty and community members.
A Sustainable Campus
Our campus is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability. We strive to reduce our impact on the environment through energy efficient buildings, renewable energy projects, native plant landscaping, and sustainability education for students, staff and the community. Multiple campus buildings have received LEED certification, the most widely used green building rating system in the world.
Driven by the USF St. Petersburg campus’s Climate Action Plan, our Office of Sustainability works with groups such as the Student Green Energy Fund to identify and spearhead initiatives that lower our carbon footprint and benefit the campus and community.
Outdoor Recreation
Views from campus buildings include wildlife right outside your window. Nestled on a calm harbor in Tampa Bay, our impressive waterfront location is ideal for water sports and recreation. Students have access to a well-equipped boat dock where they can use kayaks, paddle boards and sail boats free of charge.
Each semester, Campus Recreation staff offer sailing, motoring and watercraft-safety lessons. Other on-campus amenities include a lap pool, fitness gym, basketball courts, beach volleyball courts and soccer field.
Engaging Events and Traditions
As members of the USF St. Petersburg campus community, students have the chance to participate in events and traditions that make for memorable and engaging college experiences. Each fall semester, students, faculty and staff compete in a cardboard boat race around buoys in Bayboro Harbor.
Students interested in flying can take discounted lessons at Albert Whitted Airport located directly across the street from campus. And precocious puppies have become a staple of life for dog lovers at the USF St. Petersburg campus, where students in the Puppy Raisers Club help foster future guide and therapy dogs.