University of South Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of South Florida

Motto	"Truth and Wisdom"
Type	Public research university
Established	December 18, 1956; 68 years ago (December 18, 1956)
Parent institution	State University System of Florida
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	AAU ORAU Sea grant Space grant
Endowment	$798.2 million (2023)
Budget	$2.55 billion (2023–2024)
President	Rhea Law
Provost	Prasant Mohapatra
Academic staff	2,253
Students	48,732 (2023–2024)
Undergraduates	36,452 (2023–2024)
Postgraduates	10,802 (2023–2024)
Other students	1,478 (2023–2024)
Location	Tampa , Florida , United States
Campus	Large city, Total: 1,646 acres (6.7 km2) Tampa: 1,562 acres (6.3 km2) St. Petersburg: 52 acres (0.2 km2) Sarasota-Manatee: 32 acres (0.1 km2)
Other campuses	St. Petersburg Sarasota-Manatee
Newspaper	The Oracle
Colors	Green and gold
Nickname	Bulls
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – The American SAISA
Mascot	Rocky the Bull

The University of South Florida (USF) is a big public research university. Its main campus is in Tampa, Florida. It also has campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. USF is one of 12 universities in Florida's state university system.

USF has 14 colleges. They offer over 240 different degree programs. These include degrees for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. USF is known for its high level of research. It is also a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). This group includes top research universities in North America.

USF was started in 1956. It is the fourth largest university in Florida by student numbers. In 2022–2023, it had 49,766 students. These students came from over 145 countries. They also came from all 50 U.S. states and territories.

In 2019, USF spent $568 million on research. This made it 43rd in the nation for research spending. USF also holds many U.S. patents. In 2018, it ranked 7th in the U.S. for patents granted. USF is home to the National Academy of Inventors.

USF's sports teams are called the South Florida Bulls. They play in the American Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Bulls have won many championships.

History of USF: How It Started and Grew

USF was the first state university built in Florida in the 1900s. Samuel Gibbons, a former U.S. representative, helped create the school. Many call him the "Father of USF."

The 1950s: Building a New University

USF was founded in 1956. But it was not officially named until 1957. Classes did not start until 1960. The university was built on the site of Henderson Air Field. This was a World War II airstrip. Before that, the area was a huge orange grove.

In 1957, the Florida Cabinet approved the name "University of South Florida." At that time, USF was the southernmost state university.

The 1960s: First Students and Growth

The first five buildings on campus opened in 1960. They included the library, science building, and administration building.

The university was first for white students only. In 1961, it became integrated. Ernest Boger was the first African-American student. He graduated in 1964.

In 1962, students chose the "Golden Brahman" as the mascot. This was named after Florida's cattle industry. In the 1980s, it changed to the "Bulls."

USF held its first graduation in 1963. 325 students received degrees.

The first president, John S. Allen, led rapid growth. Master's degree programs started in 1964. Allen first did not want college sports. But USF's first sports teams began in 1965. The John and Grace Allen Administration Building is named after him.

The St. Petersburg campus opened in 1965. It was a satellite campus. In 1966, a strong F4 tornado damaged the campus.

The 1970s: New Programs and Campuses

M. Cecil Mackey became the second president in 1970. He opened the medical school and nursing school. He also started the first Ph.D. programs. Mackey helped strengthen the St. Petersburg campus. He also opened new campuses in Sarasota and Fort Myers. He called USF a "metropolitan university."

USF Sarasota–Manatee started in 1975. It shared a campus with New College of Florida.

The 1980s: Becoming a Research Powerhouse

USF became a major research university in the 1980s. This was under President John Lott Brown. The USF Graduate School was created in 1980. In 1986, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute opened on campus. USF also offered new degree programs.

Francis T. Borkowski became the fourth president in 1988. He helped start the university's football program.

The 1990s: More Growth and First Female President

Betty Castor became USF's fifth president in 1994. She was the first female president. During her time, USF became one of the largest universities. In 1997, the football team started playing. In 1998, USF was named a "Research 1" University.

The 2000s: Top Research and Global Reach

Judy Genshaft became president in 2000. Under her, USF became a top research university. It also became a big economic help to the area. USF expanded its global connections. It also became known as a top veteran-friendly university. USF partnered with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in 2009.

The 2010s: Rising in Rankings

In 2012, USF was recognized for having many Fulbright Program scholars. In 2018, President Genshaft announced her retirement.

Steven C. Currall became the seventh president in 2019. Under him, USF broke into the top 50 public colleges in the nation. It ranked 44th in 2019.

The 2020s: New Leadership and Achievements

Currall led the university through the COVID-19 pandemic. He retired in 2021.

Rhea Law, a USF graduate, became interim president. In 2022, she became the permanent president. She is the first USF graduate to hold this role. Her goals included getting USF into the top 25 public universities. USF was accepted into the Association of American Universities in 2023.

USF Symbols: Seal and Colors

In 1958, President John Allen created a seal for the university. It has special meanings:

• The Sun means life for all living things.
• The lamp stands for learning.
• The globe shows the wide view and chances from higher education.
• "Truth and Wisdom" is USF's motto.

USF's first colors were green, gold, and purple. Purple was later removed. Now, the main colors are green and gold. Green means life on Earth. Gold means the sun's heat and light. Purple is sometimes used as an accent color.

What Does "Preeminence" Mean?

In 2018, USF was named a "Preeminent university in Florida." This means it met many high standards set by Florida lawmakers. It showed excellence in at least 11 out of 12 areas.

How USF is Led

USF is part of the State University System of Florida. This system is overseen by the Florida Board of Governors. USF has a 13-member Board of Trustees (BOT). This group makes important decisions. It includes students, faculty, and members chosen by the Governor.

The BOT sets the school's budget and goals. It also makes rules for academic programs. The BOT chooses the USF president. The president then chooses leaders for the St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses.

Currently, Rhea Law is the president. Christian Hardigree leads the St. Petersburg campus. Karen Holbrook leads the Sarasota-Manatee campus.

Presidents
Person	Position	Tenure
John S. Allen	President	1957–1970
Harris Dean	Interim President	1970–1971
M. Cecil Mackey	President	1971–1976
W. Reece Smith, Jr.	Interim President	1976–1977
Carl Riggs	Interim President	1977–1978
John Lott Brown	President	1978–1988
Francis T. Borkowski	President	1988–1993
Robert A. Bryan	Interim President	1993–1994
Betty Castor	President	1994–1999
Thomas Tighe	Acting President	Fall 1999
Richard Peck	Interim President	1999–2000
Judy Genshaft	President	2000–2019
Steven C. Currall	President	2019–2021
Rhea Law	Interim President	2021–2022
	President	2022–present

USF Campuses: Where Students Learn

USF is one university with three main locations. These are Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. Before 2020, they were separate schools.

Some other USF locations used to exist. USF Fort Myers opened in 1982. It closed in 1997 when Florida Gulf Coast University opened. New College of Florida was once part of USF. USF Lakeland opened in 1988. It became Florida Polytechnic University in 2012.

The Tampa Campus: Main Hub of USF

The Tampa campus started in 1956. It has over 41,000 students. This campus has 14 colleges. It is where most doctoral degrees are given.

The Tampa campus is in North Tampa. It is about seven miles north of downtown. It is the biggest campus, covering 1,562 acres. The campus has different areas for housing, sports, research, and classes.

The campus is known for its many trees, over 19,000! It has been a Tree Campus USA since 2011. Most streets on campus are named after trees. Six dorms are also named after trees. The university's ceremonial mace has a gold pinecone. This symbolizes growth and the first pine trees planted on campus.

The St. Petersburg Campus: Learning by the Bay

USF first used the St. Petersburg site in 1965. It was a former U.S. Maritime Training Center. It is located by Bayboro Harbor in downtown St. Petersburg. It is near the Salvador Dalí Museum.

The St. Petersburg campus became a separate school within the USF system in 2006. It has about 4,500 students. It offers 33 undergraduate and graduate programs.

The Sarasota-Manatee Campus: A Shared History

USF Sarasota-Manatee started in 1975. It first shared a campus with New College of Florida. New College became independent in 2001. USF Sarasota-Manatee got its own campus in 2006.

Nearly 2,000 students attend classes here each year. The campus offers 43 academic programs. These include arts, sciences, business, and hospitality.

Academics: What You Can Study at USF

Fall first-time freshman admission statistics

	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
Applicants	65,567	50,368	57,758	36,986	35,826	37,492
Admits	28,811	24,881	19,058	17,627	15,207	13,573
Enrolls	6,773	6,251	5,705	5,113	4,536	4,280
Admit rate	43.9%	49.4%	33.0%	47.7%	42.4%	36.2%
Yield rate	23.5%	25.1%	29.9%	29.0%	29.8%	31.5%
SAT composite*	1240⁠–1370 (76%†)	1150⁠–1330 (70%†)	1170⁠–1310 (74%†)	1180⁠–1310 (74%†)	1170⁠–1330 (69%†)	1150⁠–1310 (59%†)
ACT composite*	27–30 (24%†)	24–29 (30%†)	25–30 (26%†)	25–29 (26%†)	25–29 (26%†)	24–29 (41%†)
* middle 50% range, years before 2020 only include info from the Tampa campus † percentage of first-time freshmen who chose to submit

USF offers many degree programs. These include 91 bachelor's degrees and 103 master's degrees. There are also 48 doctoral programs. The school year has three semesters: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

Tuition: How Much Does it Cost?

As of 2022–23, tuition costs are:

Undergraduate 

About $213 per credit hour for Florida residents. About $577 per credit hour for out-of-state students.

Graduate 

About $434 per credit hour for Florida residents. About $880 per credit hour for out-of-state students.

Tuition at Florida public universities has not changed since 2014.

Who Are USF Students?

Enrollment in USF (2017–2024)

Academic Year	Undergraduates	Graduate	Total Enrollment
2017–2018	33,707	11,950	45,657
2018–2019	34,155	11,752	45,907
2019–2020	34,743	11,695	46,438
2020–2021	38,579	12,034	50,613
2021–2022	33,077	11,245	44,322
2022–2023	38,046	11,547	49,593
2023–2024	36,452	10,802	48,732

Nearly 49,000 students attend USF. This includes over 36,400 undergraduate students. USF is one of the most diverse universities. Students come from every U.S. state and over 140 countries. About 12% of students are international.

In Fall 2022, about 50% of students were White. 23% were Hispanic. 9% were African American. 9% were Asian. About 60% of students are female.

New freshmen in Fall 2022 had high test scores. Their average SAT score was 1309. Their average ACT score was 29. Many graduated in the top 10% of their high school class.

How USF Ranks Among Universities

U.S. university rankings
ARWU World	301–400
THES World	251–300
USNWR National University	89
Washington Monthly National University	51
Forbes	118

For 2023–2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked USF very high. It was tied for #89 among all national universities. It was #45 among public universities. USF has risen fast in these rankings. It is also ranked high for "Social Mobility." This means it helps students from all backgrounds succeed.

What Are USF's Colleges?

USF has 14 colleges where students can study:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Behavioral and Community Sciences
• Muma College of Business
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• Patel College of Global Sustainability
• College of Graduate Studies
• Judy Genshaft Honors College
• College of Marine Science
• Morsani College of Medicine
• College of Nursing
• Taneja College of Pharmacy
• College of Public Health
• College of The Arts

USF Faculty: Who Teaches Here?

As of Fall 2022, USF had over 15,000 teachers. There are 22 students for every teacher. Most full-time teachers have the highest degree in their field. Many USF faculty members have won important awards.

Graduation: Celebrating Success

The first USF graduation was in 1963. 325 degrees were given out. Now, USF awards over 13,000 degrees each year. Graduation ceremonies happen three times a year. They are held in the USF Sun Dome.

Libraries: Resources for Learning

The USF Tampa Library is the largest. It has over 2 million academic journals, databases, and books. It also offers tutoring, writing help, and study rooms. The library has special collections too. In 2012, the SMART Lab opened. It has many computers for students. The library is open almost all the time during semesters.

Besides the Tampa library, there are other USF libraries. These include the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library in St. Petersburg. The Information Commons Hub is in Sarasota-Manatee.

USF Health Libraries help students and staff in health fields. They also help the public with health research.

Research: Discovering New Things

USF is one of the fastest-growing research universities. In 2021, it received over $590 million for research. USF is a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. It is also part of the National Sea Grant College Program.

USF Health: Helping People Stay Healthy

USF Health includes several colleges. These are the Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, and others. USF Health researchers work on many health issues. These include cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. The College of Nursing gets the most research money in Florida from the National Institutes of Health.

Over 400 healthcare professionals at USF Health treat patients. In 2012, the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation opened. It is a training center for health professionals. In 2020, the Morsani College of Medicine moved to a new building in downtown Tampa.

Sustainability: Protecting Our Planet

USF has a "gold rating" for being environmentally friendly. The Patel College of Global Sustainability opened in 2012. It is in a LEED GOLD certified building. This means it is very energy efficient.

USF has many green initiatives. These include electric car charging stations and recycling programs. The university also has a Student Green Energy Fund. Students can suggest projects to reduce energy use.

The nearly 20,000 trees on the Tampa campus help the environment. They save energy and manage stormwater. The campus is a Tree Campus USA.

USF has six LEED certified buildings. These are on the Tampa or downtown medical campuses.

Student Life: What It's Like to Be a Bull

Student body composition as of December 9, 2022

Race and ethnicity	Total
White	50.4%	50.4
Hispanic	22.9%	22.9
Black	9.1%	9.1
Other	8.7%	8.7
Asian	8.6%	8.6
Foreign national	11.8%	11.8
Economic diversity
Low-income	31%	31
Affluent	69%	69

The USF Tampa campus offers many services for students. These help students succeed in classes and in their lives. Students can join clubs, live on campus, and use dining halls. They also have access to health services.

Marshall Student Center: The Heart of Campus

In 2008, USF opened the Marshall Student Center. It is named after Phyllis P. Marshall, a former student union director. This four-story building has a large ballroom and auditorium. It also has a computer lab, study spaces, and lounges. There are many dining options like Panera and Chick-fil-A.

The center is a main gathering place for student life. It houses student government and many student organizations.

Centre Gallery: Student Art Space

The Centre Gallery is an art space run by students. It is inside the Marshall Student Center. It shows art from USF students, teachers, and alumni. It is the only student-run art space in Florida.

Old Student Union

The first student union opened in 1960. It was called the University Center. It had a cafeteria, post office, and game room. It was torn down in 2008 to build the new Marshall Student Center.

Bull Statues: Good Luck Charms

USF has 9 life-size bronze bull statues. One is in St. Petersburg, one in Sarasota-Manatee, and seven in Tampa. Each statue has a different design.

These statues are part of USF tradition. The three statues outside the Marshall Student Center are called the "Running of the Bulls." They represent the four years a student spends in college.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza: A Place for Reflection

This plaza is a popular spot on the Tampa campus. It is between the John and Grace Allen Building and the Marshall Student Center. It has a small statue of Martin Luther King Jr.. Lines on the ground point to cities important to his life. There is also a reflecting pool and stone tablets with his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Botanical Gardens: Nature on Campus

The 15-acre botanical garden opened in 1969. It has over 3,000 types of plants. These include fruit trees, bonsai trees, and carnivorous plants. There is also a medicinal herb garden. The garden is open to the public for free.

Castor Beach: A Relaxing Spot

Castor Beach is an artificial beach on campus. It is by a lake near Betty Castor Hall. It has white sand from Clearwater Beach. There is a volleyball net, hammocks, and chairs. It is a popular place to relax. Swimming in the lake is not allowed because of alligators.

Housing: Where Students Live

The USF Tampa campus has 39 residence halls. They can house over 6,500 students. There are different styles of housing. USF also has special housing for families and Greek life.

Since 2009, most first-year students must live on the Tampa campus. Exceptions include students living with parents nearby.

USF offers 12 Living Learning Communities (LLCs). These are dorms for students with similar majors or interests.

The St. Petersburg campus has space for over 600 students. The Sarasota-Manatee campus will open its first dorm in Fall 2024.

Campus Recreation: Fun and Fitness

Gyms and Fitness

The Campus Recreation Center in Tampa is a large fitness facility. It has basketball courts, fitness rooms, and a running track. It also has a swimming pool. Students can work out, take classes, and play sports.

There are other smaller gyms on campus. These include The Fit and Magnolia Fitness Center. They also have swimming pools.

Other Recreation Activities

USF offers over 30 intramural sports. USF Riverfront Park is a recreational park. Students can go canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding there. It also has a ropes course and a disk golf course.

The Outdoor Recreation department plans trips. Students can go backpacking, hiking, and kayaking. They also have "beach days" to nearby beaches.

Club Sports: Competing for Fun

USF has over 40 club sports teams. These include rugby, lacrosse, and ice hockey. They compete against other schools. USF club teams have won 11 national championships.

Harborwalk: Connecting St. Pete Campus to Downtown

Harborwalk is an area on the St. Petersburg campus. It connects the campus to downtown attractions. These include Poynter Park and the Salvador Dalí Museum.

Student Involvement: Getting Connected

USF has over 600 student organizations. These include academic, professional, and cultural groups. Students can join existing groups or start their own. The Center for Student Involvement plans events like Homecoming Week.

Fraternity and Sorority Life

There are 27 fraternities and 24 sororities at USF Tampa. They are part of four different councils. Greek Village has housing for 12 of these groups.

Fraternities		Sororities
Alpha Epsilon Pi Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Sigma Phi Beta Theta Pi Delta Epsilon Psi Delta Tau Delta Iota Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Sigma Lambda Theta Phi Lambda Upsilon Lambda Omega Psi Phi Phi Beta Sigma Phi Gamma Delta Phi Delta Theta Pi Delta Psi	Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Phi Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Beta Rho Sigma Chi Sigma Lambda Beta Sigma Nu Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Pi Theta Tau Zeta Beta Tau	Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Kappa Alpha alpha Kappa Delta Phi Alpha Sigma Kappa Alpha Omicron Pi Chi Omega Chi Upsilon Sigma Delta Delta Delta Delta Gamma Delta Phi Omega Delta Sigma Theta Delta Tau Lambda	Gamma Phi Beta Kappa Delta Kappa Phi Lambda Lambda Theta Alpha Mu Sigma Upsilon Omega Phi Beta Sigma Delta Tau Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Kappa Sigma Lambda Gamma Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Tau Alpha

ROTC: Military Training

The USF Tampa campus offers three Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs. These are for the Air Force, Army, and Navy. USF is one of few universities with all three. They are housed in the Joint Military Leadership Center (JMLC). The JMLC has a weapons simulation room and rappelling wall.

Students in ROTC can live in a special dorm. This helps them learn about military life.

Student Government: Your Voice at USF

The USF Student Government is run by students. It has 250 student volunteers and employees. They speak for students at the university and state levels. The Student Senate manages over $17 million in student fees.

The Student Government has an executive branch, a senate, and a supreme court. The Student Body President can be on the University Board of Trustees.

Career Services: Planning Your Future

USF Career Services helps students and alumni. They help with career goals and job searches. They teach students how to plan for a career. They also help with resumes and interviews.

Career Services hosts job fairs and workshops. They help students connect with businesses.

University and Student Media: News and Entertainment

The Oracle is the student newspaper. It started in 1966. It is published several times a week. It has won awards for journalism.

WUSF (FM) is a public radio station owned by USF. It started in 1963. It broadcasts NPR news and jazz music.

Bulls Radio is the student-run radio station. It started in 1988. Students broadcast from a studio in the Marshall Student Center.

Traditions: Fun Customs at USF

USF's hand sign is "Horns Up." Fans use it for good luck at games. They also use it as a greeting.

Since 1995, the USF water tower turns green after a Bulls win. It also lights up green for special events.

The Bull Market is a weekly outdoor market. It happens every Wednesday outside the Marshall Student Center. It is one of USF's oldest traditions.

USF has many trees on campus. The first president, John Allen, wanted to plant many trees. Many roads and dorms are named after trees. The university mace has a gold pinecone.

There is a large USF seal on the floor near the Marshall Student Center. Students are told not to step on it. If they do, they must run outside and rub the nose of a bull statue within 30 seconds. This is said to reverse the "curse."

Rubbing the hoof of the bull statue at the Yuengling Center is said to bring good luck for basketball and volleyball games. Rubbing the horns of bull statues at other campuses is said to bring good luck on exams.

Homecoming: A Week of Celebration

Homecoming started in 1964. It is a week of events. These include a comedy show, a ball, a concert, and a parade. It all leads up to a football game.

USF Week: Celebrating the University

Tampa's former mayor, Pam Iorio, declared April 9 as USF Day. Now, it's a whole week of celebrations. Events include a pep rally, talent show, and a music festival called Bullstock. It also includes a birthday party for Rocky the Bull.

St. Pete Grand Prix: A Race View from Campus

Residence Hall One on the St. Petersburg campus has great views of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. This IndyCar race happens in downtown St. Petersburg. Students often watch the race from their dorm rooms.

Alma Mater: The University Song

The university's alma mater was written in 1960. It is played at every graduation ceremony. It is also played by the Herd of Thunder marching band after games.

Golden Brahman March: The Fight Song

USF's fight song is the Golden Brahman March. It is named after the original mascot. Students learn the song during orientation.

Other Songs

"The Bull" is a rallying cry. It is played by the marching band. Fans make the "Horns Up" sign and circle it.

USF also has a victory song called March Victorious. It is played after every USF win in football and basketball.

Athletics: Go Bulls!

USF played its first college sports event in 1965. It joined the NCAA in 1968. Now, it competes in NCAA Division I. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Nearly 500 student-athletes play for USF.

USF teams have won 163 conference championships. The women's swimming team won an NCAA national championship in 1985. USF athletes have won many individual national championships. The USF softball team won national championships in 1983 and 1984. The Bulls sailing team has also won national championships.

Many USF alumni have competed in the Olympic Games. Évelyne Viens won an Olympic gold medal in soccer in 2020.

All home athletic events are free for students.

Teams: What Sports Do the Bulls Play?

USF has 19 men's and women's varsity sports:

Men's sports	Women's sports
Baseball	Basketball
Basketball	Cross country
Cross country	Golf
Football	Sailing
Golf	Soccer
Soccer	Softball
Tennis	Tennis
Track & field†	Track & field†
	Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

USF will also add women's lacrosse and women's beach volleyball teams soon.

Athletic Facilities: Where the Bulls Play

The USF Athletic District is on the eastern side of the Tampa campus. It is home to most of the Bulls' sports teams. It includes the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center and Corbett Stadium.

Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center

This center opened in 2004. It is the main office for USF Athletics. It is named after Lee Roy Selmon, a famous football player. The center has a large gym, sports medicine clinic, and a Hall of Fame.

Yuengling Center: Home Arena

The Yuengling Center is on the Tampa campus. It is home to the men's and women's basketball teams and the volleyball team. It also hosts graduations and other university events. Many concerts and shows are held here.

Raymond James Stadium: Football Field

The USF football team plays at Raymond James Stadium. This is also home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It is one of only five college teams to play in an NFL stadium. The stadium is 13 miles from campus. It can hold over 75,000 people.

Corbett Stadium: Soccer and Lacrosse

The USF men's and women's soccer teams play at Corbett Stadium. It has over 1,000 seats. It also has grassy areas for more fans. It will be home to the women's lacrosse team too.

Spirit Squads: Cheering on the Bulls

The USF Spirit Squads include the dance team, cheerleading squad, Rocky the Bull, and the Herd of Thunder marching band. They support the teams at games. They also compete nationally. The cheerleading teams have won many national championships.

Rocky the Bull is the official mascot. He appears at sports events and other university events.

The Herd of Thunder marching band has 370 members. They perform at football games. The pep band plays at basketball and volleyball games.

Notable Alumni: Famous Bulls

Many successful people have graduated from USF:

Academics: Leaders in Learning

• George Gatewood, astronomer
• Rhea Law, current President of USF
• Seth Kalichman, expert in HIV/AIDS research
• Lee Kump, Dean at Penn State University
• Tonjua Williams, president of St. Petersburg College

Athletes: Sports Stars

• Tony La Russa, famous MLB manager, Hall of Famer
• Ed Baird, two-time America's Cup sailing champion
• Roy Wegerle, U.S. Men's National Soccer Team player
• Ken Eriksen, USF softball coach and Team USA softball manager
• Chucky Atkins, NBA point guard, NBA Champion
• Jason Pierre-Paul, NFL defensive end, two-time Super Bowl Champion
• Christiane Endler, top female soccer goalkeeper
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling, NFL wide receiver, two-time Super Bowl Champion
• Shane McClanahan, MLB pitcher

Business: Top Executives

• John R. Patrick, former vice president of IBM
• George Reyes, former CFO of Google
• Jim Atchison, President/CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
• Robert B. Carter, co-CEO and CIO of FedEx

Entertainers and Writers: Creative Minds

• Richard Oppel, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
• Lobo, singer/songwriter
• James Carlos Blake, author
• Jack E. Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author
• Hulk Hogan (attended), professional wrestler
• Gallagher, comedian
• Mark Consuelos, actor
• Grace Byers, actress

Military: Service Leaders

• Matthew L. Nathan, Vice Admiral and former Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy
• John Kirby, Rear Admiral, Pentagon Press Secretary

Politicians and Activists: Making a Difference

• H. Lee Moffitt, founder of Moffitt Cancer Center
• Michele Elliott, child protection activist
• Pam Iorio, former Mayor of Tampa
• Julia Letlow, U.S. Congresswoman

Scientists: Discoverers and Innovators

• Joanna Fowler, National Medal of Science winner
• Alan Boss, astrophysicist
• David Mearns, record-holding shipwreck finder
• Carlos Del Castillo, NASA scientist

*bachelor's degree unless otherwise noted

Notable Faculty: Teachers and Researchers

• Norma A. Alcantar, chemical engineering
• Raymond Arsenault, American history
• Mya Breitbart, biology
• David M. Diamond, neuroscience
• John Hardy, genetics
• Robin Murphy, computer science
• Robert Plutchik, psychology

See also

In Spanish: Universidad del Sur de Florida para niños