Tampa university remains ranked among top 50 schools in US

The University of South Florida held its place among the nation’s top 50 public universities for an eighth consecutive year, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

USF ranked No. 46 among public universities and No. 100 among all public and private universities in the country, the university announced Tuesday. It’s the fifth straight year USF has been included in the top 100 overall list. The Tampa-based university has climbed 48 spots among public institutions and 70 spots in the overall ranking over the past 15 years.

Among public universities, USF also ranked No. 19 for social mobility, No. 25 for innovation, No. 25 for value for in-state students, No. 28 for overall value and No. 46 among colleges serving veterans. 

“These rankings reflect our commitment to providing an exceptional education for our students that allows them to succeed,” USF President Moez Limayem says in the release.

The recognition comes weeks after USF announced its incoming freshman class was the most academically accomplished in the university’s history, with record averages for high school GPAs and SAT scores and a record number of National Merit Scholars.

USF has also appeared in several other national rankings this year. It was ranked No. 23 among public universities by school information website Niche, and Money magazine gave USF 4.5 out of 5 stars — tying for the highest rating among Florida’s public universities with Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida and University of Florida.

USF serves about 50,000 students across campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and at USF Health. The university reported a record $750 million in research funding in 2025 and estimates its annual economic impact on Florida at nearly $10 billion.