For access among nonprofit four-year institutions
For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of South Florida #64 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,079, placing University of South Florida in the 52.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of South Florida sits in the 41.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting how consistently graduates outperform what similar students earn at comparable institutions. --- Students at University of South Florida earn about $3,981 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a result that places the university among the stronger-performing institutions in the Azimuth coverage set for graduate earnings relative to student background. Azimuth ranks University of South Florida #64 for overall value among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median 4-year earnings of $62,079 reinforcing the institution's standing in the 52.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of South Florida #64 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Tampa, FL, University of South Florida enrolls roughly 37,207 undergraduates. Retention stands at 91.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 76.8%, reflecting strong degree completion relative to the institution's broad-access admissions posture — University of South Florida admits about 43.2% of applicants. The composite is driven by return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of South Florida #926 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $62,079, and earn about $3,981 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of South Florida in the 41.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Health is the dominant program family, anchoring a degree portfolio that channels graduates into health-sector and applied-science careers with strong early pay. Mobility and access reinforce the composite — University of South Florida sits in the 97.2 percentile for mobility and the 94.4 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 29.4% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 35.8% identifying as first-generation. Affordability sits in the 92.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, a position shaped by public-tuition pricing and need-based aid that narrows the gap between sticker price and what families pay.
Vanderbilt University's published cost of attendance is $22,859, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $4,122, while middle-income families pay around $9,326, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,497. Azimuth ranks University of South Florida #105 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Vanderbilt's aid structure is built around meeting demonstrated financial need, and the gap between sticker price and what low-income families actually pay reflects the depth of that commitment. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and institutional grants form the core of aid packages for qualifying students — a structure that can make a high-sticker institution more accessible than its published cost suggests. The net price illusion is particularly relevant here: the headline cost of attendance and the actual price paid by low- and middle-income families can differ by a wide margin at institutions with strong endowment-backed aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $17,988, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,541; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,079, median federal debt of $17,988 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of South Florida is a strong fit for students drawn to health fields who want a public research university experience in Tampa, FL.
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,079, placing University of South Florida in the 52.1st percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $3,981 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of South Florida in the 41.1st percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the University Of South Florida hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 29.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.8% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place University of South Florida in the 70.1st percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure.
Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 43.2% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors health-oriented fields over others. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Vanderbilt University's published cost of attendance is $22,859, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $4,122, while middle-income families pay around $9,326, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,497.
Azimuth ranks University of South Florida #105 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Vanderbilt's aid structure is built around meeting demonstrated financial need, and the gap between sticker price and what low-income families actually pay reflects the depth of that commitment. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and institutional grants form the core of aid packages for qualifying students — a structure that can make a high-sticker institution more accessible than its published cost suggests.
The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is particularly relevant here: the headline cost of attendance and the actual price paid by low- and middle-income families can differ by a wide margin at institutions with strong endowment-backed aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $17,988, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,541; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,079, median federal debt of $17,988 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of South Florida earn median earnings of $62,079 four years after enrollment, placing University of South Florida in the 52.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $3,981 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 41.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of South Florida #926 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects University of South Florida's program mix. Biology, General combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Biology, General #151 among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 1,249 graduates earning median earnings of $49,395 four years after enrollment. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General graduates 1,044 students and earns median earnings of $56,452, while Psychology, General earns median earnings of $47,257 with 811 graduates.
Among the highest-earning fields, Azimuth ranks Nursing #101 among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $84,694, and Criminology graduates earn median earnings of $53,883.
Computer Engineering
52 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
95 graduates
Chemical Engineering
111 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
411 graduates
Industrial Engineering
55 graduates
University of South Florida's program mix is anchored in Health, which accounts for 17% of degree output, followed by Social Sciences at 11% and Engineering at 6%. That health-sciences concentration shapes the institution's earnings profile: nursing, biomedical sciences, and allied health fields feed directly into Florida's large and growing healthcare labor market, where employer demand remains strong.
The largest programs by cohort size — Biology, General (1,249 graduates), Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (1,044 graduates), and Psychology, General (811 graduates) — reflect this applied, workforce-oriented identity. Across 68 programs serving roughly 10,134 students annually, 53 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The strongest earnings come from Artificial Intelligence, where graduates earn median earnings of $90,953 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #64 among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing follows with median earnings of $84,694, and Azimuth ranks the program #101 among nonprofit four-year institutions, while Finance graduates earn $73,933 with a national rank of #69 among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Biology, General combines strong enrollment scale with solid pay, making it a key driver of the institution's aggregate return. Several of University of South Florida's highest-earning programs — particularly nursing and health-adjacent fields — are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes.
Programs like Nursing and Criminology, with median earnings of $84,694 and $53,883 respectively, represent fields where some graduates continue to graduate or professional school, meaning four-year earnings may undercount lifetime trajectory.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida Southern College Higher acceptance rate (18.1 percentage points higher) and located 28 miles away; similar graduate earnings | FL | 59% | $55,294 | Compare |
Stetson University Higher acceptance rate (45.5 percentage points higher) and located 95 miles away; similar graduate earnings | FL | 86% | $51,642 | Compare |
Eckerd College Higher acceptance rate (37.7 percentage points higher) and located 29 miles away; similar graduate earnings | FL | 79% | $51,819 | Compare |
Wheeling University Higher acceptance rate (34.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WV | 75% | $57,949 | Compare |
Samford University Higher acceptance rate (41.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | AL | 82% | $58,469 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of California-Santa Barbara Similar quality tier (#4169 ranked) | CA | 33% | $74,915 | #4169 | Compare |
Florida State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4168 ranked) | FL | 24% | $61,675 | #4168 | Compare |
Cuny New York City College Of Technology Similar quality tier (#4174 ranked) | NY | 80% | $49,365 | #4174 | Compare |
University Of Arizona Similar quality tier (#4175 ranked) | AZ | 86% | $59,979 | #4175 | Compare |
University Of Maryland-College Park Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4176 ranked) | MD | 45% | $82,860 | #4176 | Compare |
