University of Tampa

The University of Tampa (UTampa) is a renowned private college in the USA, ranked among the top 500 colleges in the country by Forbes in 2021. Located right on Florida's world-famous coastline, the university works hard to provide its students with a truly unique and unforgettable study experience.

A medium-sized institution, UTampa offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to a diverse community of more than 11,000 students from 130 countries. It boasts an enviable selection of old and new buildings, from Plant Hall, a National Historic Landmark, complemented by USD 950 million of quality facilities and venues built over the last 25 years.

The Princeton Review holds UTampa in high regard: In 2024, it ranked UTampa in the top 50 for its undergraduate entrepreneurship program.

Students at UTampa benefit from outstanding research and a world-class study experience, taught by industry leaders. Experienced faculty excel at using innovative, practical, and exciting teaching methods, with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio allowing for a personalized study experience. Staff are committed to the success of every individual, both from an academic and career perspective.

UTampa offers a substantial amount of student support, with the university providing a range of work experience opportunities, including work placements and on-campus jobs. All undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for academic scholarships at the time of application.

Outside of the classroom, students enjoy getting involved in championship sports, community service projects, student clubs, societies and activities. That's all alongside honors, leadership and study abroad programs. The result is career-ready graduates who leave with extraordinary academic experience and memories that will last a lifetime.

Since 1931, the University of Tampa has provided exceptional learning experiences in a global way. With a student-faculty ratio of 17:1 and an average class size of only 22, students benefit from a truly personalized learning experience and plenty of individual attention. Students are the top priority of UTampa's professors, whether they are teaching on campus or travelling abroad to present research.

UTampa encourages experiential education, so students actively engage with learning opportunities. This includes studying abroad, internships, and students conducting their own research, across more than 200 areas of study.

Professors frequently engage in international research and business initiatives. As such, they are closely attuned to the unique needs and goals of international students, who benefit from close and regular interactions with faculty.

Supporting student development and success, UTampa's distinguished faculty include celebrated scholars, teachers, and authors from around the world. A faculty with high credentials, 90 percent of teaching staff have either got a PhD or the highest degree possible in their field, and 80 percent have practical business experience.

Accreditations

UTampa is committed to providing exceptional educational experience, and has earned some of the following accreditations and certifications:

• SACSCOC – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• AACSB – Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business Sykes College of Business
• ABET – Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology B.S. in Management Information Systems
• ACS – American Chemical Society
• ASBMB – American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B.S. in Biochemistry
• CAE-CD – National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense B.S in Cybersecurity

The University of Tampa offers a variety of creative study options. Fantastic learning experiences take place across its four reputable colleges, which are:

• College of Arts and Letters
• Sykes College of Business
• College of Natural and Health Sciences
• College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education

Having four colleges allows UTampa to have a personal feeling while still growing rapidly as an institution. Each academic area is given the freedom to create its own unique individual identity, with students and faculty encouraged to support the wider scholarly community.

Complementing its four colleges, UTampa has four major interdisciplinary areas where curricula, resources, and colleges combine:

• Graduate and continuing studies – coordinating programs for adult, further education, and part-time learners
• Spartan studies – supporting the liberal arts core that is essential to all undergraduate students not enrolled in the honors program
• International programs – overseeing all elements of international study
• Honors program – offering an innovative curriculum and opportunities for especially high-achieving students.

Admissions requirements for degree programs at the UTampa vary between study programs. All international students will need to complete their application prior to the deadline, pay the non-refundable application fee, and provide other essential documentation such as an identity document and proof of funds.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate international applicants to the University of Tampa need to meet and provide these admissions requirements. These include records of national exams and a high school or secondary school transcript, and an official English Language proficiency test.

There are some countries (where English is the primary language) where the proficiency test requirement is waived. Students should check the UTampa website to make sure they meet the requirements when applying.

Graduate

Graduate International applicants to the University of Tampa need to meet and provide these admissions requirements. Again, students who are travelling to UTampa and the U.S. for the first time for their graduate program must supply proof of English language proficiency.

The University of Tampa has an excellent range of facilities across its 110-acre campus. With upgrades and developments regularly taking place, the university boasts 60 buildings, including 11 student residence halls.

Research facilities

Staff and students have access to a wide range of state-of-the-art academic facilities to enhance and develop their research. This includes:

• 300,000x Magnification Scanning Electron Microscope
• Biopsychology and Learning Instructional Lab
• Cybersecurity Labs
• Forensic Science Lab
• Huizenga Financial Trading Center
• Human Performance Research Lab
• Marine Science Center

Residence life

Many international students choose to live on campus in one of 12 state-of-the-art residence halls, all equipped with passcode security, air conditioning, study lounges and free access to the internet. There are 28 conveniently located dining venues on campus.

Ways to get involved on campus

More than 315 clubs, organizations and teams will give students plenty of options to get involved in campus life and the community. These are just some of the ways that a UTampa student can get involved:

• Three major student-led publications
• Academic recognition societies
• Peer education groups
• Community service organizations
• Student government
• 28 fraternities and sororities
• Special interest and leadership groups
• Nationally recognized ROTC programs
• Top-ranked NCAA Division II sports
• Club sports and organized teams in intramural sports and tournaments

UTampa Office of Career Services focuses on helping students to explore career options, gain valuable work experience, and develop the key skills needed for success in their field. The comprehensive selection of resources available includes:

• One-on-one career coaching
• Career and job search workshops
• Career readiness programming
• Job and internship listings
• Job and internship recruiting events
• Handshake online career management system
• AI mock interviews program
• Connections with mentors
• Job shadowing
• Informational interviews
• Identifying companies with experience in sponsoring visas

The career services center also hosts job and internship fairs on campus to bring potential future employers directly to students and help them in their job search. Over 200 companies regularly participate in these events, with leading guest speakers regularly hosted at the university to share helpful career insights.

With the reputation of research at UTampa held in such high regard, and with the help of careers services, UTampa students can make their applications stand out. This is reflected by recent alumni working for major companies or going on to enroll at leading graduate schools elsewhere across the USA.

Key statistics

• In 2024, over 35,000 internships were posted on Handshake for UTampa students
• In 2023, 97.6 percent of recent UTampa graduates reported success in achieving their post-graduation goals
• 800 community leaders serve on UTampa advisory boards and affiliate groups.

UTampa has been consistently ranked among the finest institutions in the USA, with recent honors including, but not limited to:

• Consistently ranked in the top tier of the Regional Universities South category by the US News & World Report (USNWR), coming in 14^th place in 2025
• Ranked as 6^th most innovative college in the South (USNWR, 2024)
• Ranked as 37^th best value school in the USA (USNWR, 2025)
• Annual appearances in Forbes' America's Top Colleges rankings since 2010

Campus developments

Grand Center

Completed in August 2024, the 10-story Grand Center features classrooms, student support services, the International Programming Office, and residences for 600 first-year students. It's designed to be a hub of collaboration and features a Sky Park with green space to help promote wellness and a sense of community amongst students.

The Grand Center reflects UTampa's drive to continue investing in its campus, creating a contemporary space where students can enjoy a comfortable and balanced lifestyle.