Affordability
USF tuition and fees are $6,410 (2025-26) for a full-time Florida Resident and $18,416 for a non-Florida Resident. Compared to other public universities, that is nearly half the cost for the average in-state tuition and fees.
The support doesn't stop here. The 2024-2025 year saw:
- $117,864,176 awarded in scholarships
- $153,616,040 awarded in grants
- $2,887,242 earned in work-study programs
For more stats, facts, and figures check out the current USF Factbook.
Research
$750 million in research funding was awarded to the University of South Florida in fiscal year 2025. You can see the impact of this funding throughout the St. Petersburg campus, which allows students to directly engage in research and hands-on learning opportunities with their professors.
Whether it's being part of the first team to film the elusive giant squid in U.S. waters, conducting cutting edge research on Alzheimer's disease, discovering the abundance of microplastics in Tampa Bay or starting startups - our faculty and students are finding new ways to make a difference.
Some of the major USF St. Petersburg research projects include:
Trafficking in Persons Research Lab
The Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience Research Lab is one of the first research centers dedicated to studying the impacts of human trafficking in Florida. It is the statewide repository for anonymous human trafficking data, collecting and analyzing statewide data to better understand the frequency and trends in human trafficking across the state. The lab released a first-of-its-kind report that shined a light on the high risk and occurrences of human trafficking in the state as well as the growing, coordinated response to combat the crime and aid victims.
Preventing Alzheimer's with Cognitive Training
Jennifer O’Brien, an associate professor of psychology, is the principal investigator of a study seeing whether computerized brain training exercises can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. The Preventing Alzheimer's with Cognitive Training (PACT) study, funded by a $44.4 million National Institutes of Health grant, is the largest study of its kind to date, investigating not only how to possibly prevent dementia but also how to detect it earlier.
La Florida Interactive Digital Archives
This award-winning project brings Florida's early population to life through short videos, interactive maps and a searchable population database. Led by Professor J. Michael Francis, it studies the critical events of America’s earliest beginnings – such as:
- The founding of the first permanent European settlement in the continental U.S. at St. Augustine in 1565
- The original St. Patrick’s day celebration, which was discovered through this project to have taken place in Florida in 1601
- The first free black settlement anywhere in the colonies at Fort Mose in 1738.
Initiative on Coastal Adaptation and Resilience
The Initiative on Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (iCAR) brings together scientists, policymakers and the community to focus on preparing for and responding to future environmental changes. Recently, the initiative spearheaded by GIS and Remote Sensing Professor Barnali Dixon has organized a "storm squad" consisting of neighborhood leaders who distribute critical information to vulnerable communities during extreme storm events. They've even launched a flood tracking app that has become an important tool in helping local communities monitor and respond to extreme storms.
Community
USF St. Petersburg is like a small town in a big city. The campus's friendly vibe allows students to instantly make friends. And with small class sizes, students develop connections with faculty.
The campus is the site of many events, offering opportunities for students to attend concerts, science festivals, book talks and more. Students, faculty and staff are also deeply engrained in the surrounding community. Many engage with local businesses and organizations, participating in activities, service projects, research and more.
Here are some ways USF St. Petersburg stays connected:
Sustainability
At USF St. Petersburg, we're always looking for new ways to incorporate sustainability into our campus. We strive to improve the environment by funding renewable energy projects, building green, improving energy efficiency, saving water, planting native species and more.
Major sustainability projects and accomplishments include:
- Solar energy powers our parking garage and a portion of our Warehouse Laboratory -- over 140kW produced from our on-site solar array and Tesla battery storage system.
- A number of EV charging stations located throughout the campus.
- Our Student Green Energy Fund involves dedicated students who help develop and fund sustainability projects - from industrial composters to living shorelines - that benefit the campus and the community.
The Future
From emerging technologies to the latest business trends, USF St. Petersburg faculty and students are always looking towards the future. Here are some of the areas we're investing in and incorporating into the classroom at USF St. Petersburg:
