This school appears in our ranking 10 Most Affordable Top Ranked MBA Entrepreneurship Online 2018.
The University of South Florida is a newer public university in Florida that developed a strong reputation over the years. Founded in 1956 as a school that would offer opportunities for those in southern Florida, it is still the primary university for students living in the area. Its enrollment grew rapidly though. The university now welcomes students from other parts of Florida and from across the nation. A small number of its more than 42,000 students come from other countries too.
ARWU and Washington Monthly both rank USF as one of the top 100 colleges in America. While U.S. News & World Report also ranks the university among the top American schools, several publications rank it as one of the best schools in the entire world. More than 11,000 graduate and doctoral students attend the university every year. USF also has a reputation for keeping its class sizes low. Many of the professors working for the university have terminal degrees as well as years of experience in the fields that they teach.
University of South Florida Accreditation Details
USF is an accredited public university with regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. SACS is one of the types of accreditation that allow students to get financial aid after completing the FAFSA. Graduate students can also transfer credits to the university from another school they attended that had regional accreditation. USF also has accreditation for all its degree programs in pharmacy education, physical therapy, nursing, psychology, language and select other subjects.
University of South Florida Application Requirements
Prospective USF grad students should look at both the admissions requirements that the university has and how they can apply. The deadline for those who want to start at the beginning of the fall semester is June 1. Different programs have priority deadlines too. Those who submit their applications by the priority deadline have a better chance of getting financial aid.
Incoming students must have a bachelor's degree completed at the time that they start one of the USF programs. Their degrees must come from a school with regional accreditation too. Most programs require that students have an undergrad GPA of at least 3.0 too. Students will submit official transcripts that show they maintained this GPA in all undergrad courses taken. Those who want to transfer graduate credits to the university must have a 3.0-GPA in all the classes they took.
Different programs and departments may have other requirements too. Many programs ask that students submit resumes that list any fieldwork or professional experience they have. They may need to submit a test score from an exam like the GRE or write a letter of purpose too. Some programs also ask for letters of recommendation. The application process includes an online application. Students will submit the form online and pay the $30 application fee. They can then submit any other required documents online or through the mail.
Tuition and Financial Aid
USF charges both a resident and a nonresident rate for graduate students. These rates apply to those taking classes in Florida and those taking classes online too. Students who are Florida residents pay around $431 per credit hour, while nonresidents pay around $877 per credit hour. Tuition can vary based on the campus that students take classes on too. Its Tampa campus charges the highest tuition rate. Online students can pay more or less in tuition each year based on what they study.
As USF is a state university with regional accreditation, it can grant incoming students financial aid. All students seeking aid must complete the FAFSA. They can now fill out this form as early as October in the year before they plan to enroll in the university. Graduate students may qualify for grants, but most grad students receive financial aid. They can borrow a maximum of $20,500 a year as long as they remain below the maximum amount of loans students can borrow throughout their schooling. USF can also help students learn more about some of the alternative student loans now available and how to get those loans.
Online Degrees Available
The University of South Florida offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity that can help students work for almost any government agency. This is an online interdisciplinary program that allows students to take courses from a wide range of related disciplines. Students can choose from four different concentrations such as information assurance or digital forensics. They also have the chance to earn a certificate while working on a degree. USF offers a similar cybercrime program that focuses more on criminal activities than security.
Another option for graduate students today is the university's Master of Public Health program. This program offers seven different associated concentrations. The Executive MPH in Public Health Practice is a program designed specifically for working adults and professionals. It teaches them the skills that healthcare executives need. Students can also study infection control, public health practice, public health administration, global disaster management, epidemiology or health, safety and environment.
USF is one of the only colleges in the world with a Master of Arts in Career and Technical Education program. Available through its College of Education, this program trains students on working with nontraditional students like working adults. They also develop the skills needed to teach high school students enrolled in technical programs. This program features courses that include Trends and Issues in Career and Technical Education, School Community Relations, The Adult Learner and Improving Career and Technical Education Programs. Students will also do a practicum at a local school or agency and complete a portfolio of the work that they do.
All USF online graduate programs feature eight-week classes instead of the standard 16-week courses that other colleges use. Students will usually take two classes during each session. Eight-week classes are standard in the university's Master of Science in Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health program too. Designed for those who want to work with children and teens, this program allows students to either do a thesis or enroll in the applied practice track. That track requires that students do six practicums and fieldwork experiences before they graduate. This University of South Florida features classes like Cultural Competency in Children's Mental Health, Evaluation and Research Methods in Community Health and Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Policy.