Best colleges in Tampa

Umbrellas Are for Sun, Not Rain

The bright and sunny future of Tampa college students

Florida is home to so much more than retirees and Disney World. Tampa in particular plays host to 25 different colleges, educating over 75,000 full and part-time students. If you love the idea of a lively social life and plenty of beach time while also putting in some serious study hours, Tampa is the place to be.

When it comes to playtime in Tampa, it's all about the sand and surf. Beaches, sunshine-inspired shops, restaurants and activities await you. Tampa Theatre was recently rated among the Top 10 best movie theaters in the world, sharing the honor with just one other venue in the United States. The city is also home to Shooters World, a premier indoor shooting gallery and one of the largest gun stores in the nation. of course, there are plenty of incredible restaurants, museums and night clubs downtown for when you're done relaxing on the beach and want to unwind before final exams. Tampa provides the ideal combination of inviting excursions and quality academia, making it a winning choice for those with Florida on the mind.

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Motion Picture Association of America, 2014 *www.tampagov.net *Wikipedia, "Colleges and Universities in Florida"

Best Four Year Universities in Tampa

Located in Tampa, Florida the University of South Florida, or USF, is a public institution that was founded in 1956. The total undergraduate enrollment for the class of 2021 was just under 50,000, making it one of the largest schools in the state. USF is in an urban setting on a campus that takes up over 1,600 acres with over 200 academic buildings that host classes, labs, and administrative offices. Students at USF take classes on a semester-based academic calendar, and tuition for in-state students is roughly a third of the cost that out-of-state students pay, making it a very attractive option for Florida residents. USF offers large undergraduate classes and provides a range of benefits to student veterans, an important aspect of school for former military members that are interested in getting a degree. 

USF students enjoy an array of on-campus activities including outdoor pools, over 100 student clubs, and a tropical campus with palms, idyllic brick walkways, and hanging Spanish moss. The university operates on an annual budget of over $2 billion and an endowment of approximately $690 million, making it one of the wealthiest schools in the state. USF honors its founding principles with the school crest, which symbolizes life, learning, broadened perspectives, and truth. 

Students at USF have a range of academic and career paths to explore, including over 80 bachelor’s and 100 master’s programs. Some top colleges within USF include the Morsani College of Medicine, the Muma College of Business, and the Patel College of Global Sustainability. Notable alumni include wrestler Hulk Hogan, baseball coach Tony La Russa, and news correspondent Kerry Sanders.

Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, FL

Eckerd College offers 56 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 427 students graduated with students earning 427 Bachelor's degrees.

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The University of Tampa offers 84 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 2,398 students graduated with students earning 1,922 Bachelor's degrees, 459 Master's degrees, 16 Certificates, and 1 Doctoral degree.

Florida College
Temple Terrace, FL

Florida College offers 26 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 170 students graduated with students earning 93 Associate's degrees, and 77 Bachelor's degrees.

Strayer University-Florida offers 64 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 335 students graduated with students earning 177 Bachelor's degrees, 95 Master's degrees, 57 Associate's degrees, and 6 Certificates.

Trinity College of Florida offers 21 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 34 students graduated with students earning 30 Bachelor's degrees, and 4 Associate's degrees.

St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL

St Petersburg College offers 186 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 5,195 students graduated with students earning 3,876 Associate's degrees, 1,149 Bachelor's degrees, and 170 Certificates.

Pasco-Hernando State College
New Port Richey, FL

Pasco-Hernando State College offers 94 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,641 students graduated with students earning 1,388 Associate's degrees, 186 Bachelor's degrees, and 67 Certificates.

South University-Tampa offers 36 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 292 students graduated with students earning 122 Master's degrees, 119 Bachelor's degrees, 46 Associate's degrees, 3 Certificates, and 2 Doctoral degrees.

Schiller International University offers 10 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 6 students graduated with students earning 3 Bachelor's degrees, and 3 Master's degrees.

Best Community Colleges in Tampa

Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay
Saint Petersburg, FL

Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay offers 3 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 561 students graduated with students earning 370 Associate's degrees, 160 Bachelor's degrees, and 31 Certificates.

Ultimate Medical Academy
Clearwater, FL

Ultimate Medical Academy offers 27 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2022, 7,520 students graduated with students earning 6,241 Associate's degrees, and 1,279 Certificates.

Concorde Career Institute-Tampa offers 13 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 54 students graduated with students earning 54 Associate's degrees.

ATA Career Education
Spring Hill, FL

ATA Career Education offers 10 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 115 students graduated with students earning 94 Certificates, and 21 Associate's degrees.

Hillsborough Community College offers 150 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 4,262 students graduated with students earning 3,893 Associate's degrees, and 369 Certificates.

List of all colleges in Tampa

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
University of South Florida Logo University of South Florida Tampa, FL
2/5
34 : 1 49,600
Eckerd College Logo Eckerd College Saint Petersburg, FL
5/5
12 : 1 1,993
The University of Tampa Logo The University of Tampa Tampa, FL
5/5
24 : 1 10,566
Florida College Logo Florida College Temple Terrace, FL
4/5
14 : 1 622
National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay Logo National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay Clearwater, FL     608