As the 21st Century begins, the State of Florida is the fourth most populous state and the Tampa Bay Region is among the nation's most dynamic and rapidly growing metropolitan areas. Florida's population grew from 2 million to 15 million between 1950 and 2000. The growth has made Florida a cosmopolitan, mostly urban state, with extensive cultural, economic and social transformation. Along with the achievements of the boom years have come vast challenges in education, health care, social services, arts, the environment, transportation, and economic development. The University of South Florida is uniquely positioned to assist the state with the challenges of rapid development by providing increased opportunities for the education of Florida's citizens and outstanding research outcomes to improve the quality of life. Since opening for classes in 1960, USF has developed into one of the nation's major public research universities. USF is classified as Doctoral/Research Extensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and is ranked among the top 100 public research universities in the annual report "The Top American Research Universities." The University receives more than $250 million a year in external funding to support research and development projects. With 41,000 students from all 50 states and over 100 countries, USF awards more than 4,900 bachelor's degrees and 1,900 master's degrees annually on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota/Manatee and Lakeland. The University confers more than 150 doctorates in 31 fields, and more than 90 Doctor of Medicine degrees a year. In its short history, USF has awarded more than 200,000 degrees.

• The University of South Florida is the second largest university in the southeast and among the top 20 largest in the nation.
  
• The Carnegie Foundation ranks USF for its research in the top national classification. Our researchers generate more than $250 million annually in sponsored research contracts and grants, specializing in fields such as oceanography, genetics, neurology, aging and public health, alternative fuels, and crisis intervention.
  
• USF is the nation's top location for students transferring from another college, according to U.S. News & World Report.
  
• The USF College of Public Health is the only public health college in the state accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The college is a leader in health promotion and disease prevention.
  
• Among 71 national research universities surveyed, USF ranked fourth in the number of inventions licensed to start-up companies, and first among universities with similar profiles.
  
• During the 90's, USF was #1 in the nation for the highest percentage of candidates with advanced degrees passing all parts of the CPA exam taken.