Greater Tampa Bay colleges and universities light up the Sunshine State with nationally recognized higher learning institutions. Be it public or private, two-year or four-year, the regional college community collectively offers hundreds of undergraduate and graduate degrees and programs.
Greater Tampa Bay has long been home to excellent higher education institutions. In recent years, that excellence has only grown.
One of the most well known four-year colleges in the area is the University of South Florida, with campuses in both Tampa and St. Petersburg. This standout public college has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report’s national university rankings than any other in the nation. A global research university, this college not only advances the lives of its students, but the rest of the community as well.
Of course, USF is only one of many esteemed universities in the area. An array of public and private colleges and universities provide a world-class education for students in almost any career path. Several of these institutions are favorably ranked in both the review site Niche and the U.S. News & World Report’s Best College Rankings review.
Robert Morse is chief data strategist for U.S. News & World Report, which has data on more than 1,800 schools. He said universities perform well in the rankings when they excel across the board, particularly with high graduation and retention rates.
“It’s widely known that performing well in the U.S. News rankings is important to Florida’s public universities, due to performance funding incentives that are part of state law,” Morse said.
In addition to national rankings and academics, all GTB universities have two more attractive assets in common: ample opportunities for internships and experience and the adjacent Clearwater and St. Petersburg beaches. Whether it is a native Floridian seeking higher education locally or an out-of-area student considering U.S. Southeastern colleges, any prospective student has more than a few quality choices to consider.
Best Colleges in the Tampa Area
- University of South Florida (A)
- University of South Florida — St. Petersburg (A-)
- University of Tampa (B+)
- Eckerd College (B+)
- Florida College (B)
— Niche, 2022
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida particularly stands out when it comes to providing opportunities for students from lower income households. USNWR ranks USF No. 24 in the country for advancing social mobility, which means increasing the proportion of disadvantaged students who enroll and graduate with financial aid from Pell grants. In addition, USF rose through the USNWR rankings in 2022, listed as No. 46 among the nation’s top public universities and No. 103 among all public and private universities.
“The University of South Florida takes great pride in the fact that we continue to make higher education more accessible to all students, regardless of their race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status,” said Ralph Wilcox, executive vice president of USF.
USF is an excellent example of a top-performing school, rising quickly as one of the best public colleges in the country. Locally, nationally recognized ranking site Niche ranked it the best college out of 11 in the Tampa Area and third on its list of Top Public Universities in Florida for 2022.
Founded in 1956, USF is recognized as a preeminent state research university. It received more than $500 million in research contracts and grants in the 2020 fiscal year.
USF students rise above and excel, with numerous graduate programs — several of which are ranked among the best in the nation. Eleven graduate programs made it on USNWR’s ranking of the top 50 graduate programs in the nation, including No. 2 Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Audiology and Criminology tied for No. 18 and No. 20 Public Health.
Campus life is vibrant and dynamic. The diverse student body can choose from 600 student organizations and clubs and a large Greek life community. The campus feels more like an urban community, with roughly 50,000 students on more than 1,500 acres. USF has several campuses, with sister schools in Sarasota and St. Petersburg.
USF has a college student-faculty ratio of 23:1, with 20 students or fewer in 41.4% of all classes. Outside the classroom, students frequent College of the Arts events, including exploring the Contemporary Art Museum, or hang out in the campus’s botanical gardens, made up of more than 3,000 plants, animals and natural inhabitants.
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa has given students a memorable learning experience since its founding in 1931.
Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Brent Benner said the U.S. News & World Report ranking “validates the university’s success” in its 91-year history of providing a quality educational experience to students in a metropolitan setting.
While UT is recognized for academics, it is also highly ranked for an important aspect of student life. Security experts at YourLocalSecurity.com ranked UT the No. 1 safest college campus in Florida in 2021. To help keep students safe in the campus’ urban setting, UT provides the service Law Abiding Students Ever Ready — or LASER Team for short — which provides both walking and motorized escorts for students who prefer not to travel to campus alone.
UT’s small-scale private campus offers students a more personalized experience within the City of Tampa. It has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, and the average class size is 21.
Do not be fooled by the 11-acre campus’ quaint size. Its downtown location gives students and faculty the whole city experience. In addition, nearly 300 student organizations and 25 sororities and fraternities connect the community of learners who choose from up to 200 areas of study.
Brenner said the academic, financial and social fit students feel when attending the UT is an important part of choosing the college that is right for them.
“We encourage prospective students and their parents to seek out as much information as possible about colleges and universities they are considering,” he said, adding that college websites, high school counselor advice, federal higher education data and current student and alumni opinions are also key in choosing a school.
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University, one of Florida’s oldest four-year universities, is notable among the best, with the private college lauding the lowest total enrollment in a rural setting in Pasco County, as well as a new Education Center location in the City of Tampa. Students connect through up to 70 student clubs, 20 athletic programs and Greek-life sororities and fraternities, which all offer co-curricular credit.
Saint Leo flaunts two favorable rankings from USNWR in 2022, as the No. 29 out of 138 Top Regional Universities in the South and No. 39 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, out of the 136 Southern universities included in the ranking.
Saint Leo offers up to 40 different degrees, offering students a wide array of minors and majors to choose from in their academic careers. The college student-faculty ratio is 18:1, and fewer than 20 students make up nearly 42% of all classes.
There is no doubt Greater Tampa Bay’s higher education is at the top, which is why thousands of students choose the area to spend their college careers.
Greater Tampa Bay Colleges
Eckerd College
Average tuition: $47,704
Enrollment: 2,007
Based in St. Pete, the private liberal arts and sciences college offers roughly 40 undergraduate majors and more than 300 study abroad opportunities. Life on the gulf coast is a big part of student life at Eckerd, priding itself on the lifestyle of “bare feet, skateboards and brains.” Students can even get involved in the college’s search and rescue team that works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — Worldwide
This world-class aerospace and aviation university offers certifications and associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees at its Worldwide location in Tampa. This campus could not be in a more suitable location. The close proximity to Tampa International Airport and the numerous businesses surrounding it in the thriving and expanding Westshore District of Tampa is not only a convenience, but a benefit for students. St. Petersburg College students can take advantage of seamless credit transfers to Embry-Riddle through the college’s University Partnership Center.
Florida College
Average tuition: $17,300
Enrollment: 508
The Christian college tucked away in Temple Terrace trains future ministers in Biblical studies while also offering students many other areas of study, including social and behavioral science, nursing and education. Dual enrollment allows high school students to jumpstart their college careers at Florida College, nestled near Hillsborough Riverbanks on the lush land of a private country club.
Pasco-Hernando State College
Average tuition for out-of-state students: $12,032
Average tuition for in-state students: $3,155
Enrollment: 11,633 as of fall 2019
Pasco-Hernando splits the two-county college into five campuses and is part of the Florida College System. Rapid Credentialing Exam Prep Courses help students enter the workforce sooner rather than later. Traditional students can get the full college experience, along with an array of academic studies, clubs, leadership programs and student government opportunities.
Saint Leo University
Average tuition: $23,750
Enrollment: 5,351
Florida’s oldest Catholic college, Saint Leo University offers liberal arts programs and is known for diversity and community service. The school invites students of all faiths to attend and prides itself on its U.S. military history, offering academic careers to active-duty military.
St. Petersburg College
Average tuition for out-of-state students: $8,513
Average tuition for in-state students: $2,682
Enrollment: 28,853
The large public state college centered in St. Petersburg offers approximately 100 degrees. The university’s motto, “Light and Truth,” inspires the thousands of students who attend the school founded in 1927. While no residential housing is available, students stay connected through the dozens of student organizations and clubs.
University of South Florida
Average tuition for out-of-state students: $17,324
Average tuition for in-state students: $6,410
Enrollment: 44,231
The public research school has more than 120 patents under its belt. In addition, the University of South Florida prides itself on Principles of Community, where faculty and staff promote racial equality with the help of an anti-racism website.
University of Tampa
Average tuition: $30,884
Enrollment: 9,628
Branded by one of Tampa’s epochal symbols, Planet Hall, the urban, private university offers 200 areas of study. Pre-professional programs and select certifications add to the numerous majors. There are dozens of student clubs and organizations on the diverse campus that welcomes international learners.
Troy University
The Troy University campus in Tampa’s Westshore District is one of more than 10 Troy University locations across the Southeastern United States, with the main campus in Troy, Alabama. The Troy University Trojans enjoy an abundance of choice and a personalized education, with an online college, 260 undergrad and graduate programs and a 19:1 student-faculty ratio. U.S. News & World Report recognizes Troy University as one of the best colleges for veterans.
By Angela Underwood
