Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Tampa

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Downtown Tampa, FloridaPhoto: Clément Bardot · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Tampa

Tampa is home to six colleges, with about 64,000 students on campus

The University of South Florida (40,892 students on campus) and Hillsborough Community College (11,704) are inside the city. About 9% of Tampa’s residents are enrolled in college, above Florida (6%).

The University of TampaHillsborough Community CollegeUniversity of South Florida

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Tampa. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
66,830 students on campus
Nearest college
1.5 mi
The University of Tampa
Residents in college
9%
Above FL (6%)
Nearest community college
2.5 mi
Hillsborough · $2,506 tuition
Nearest public university
2.5 mi
Hillsborough · $2,506 in-state
Median household income
$75K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Tampa

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 7.5 milesThe University of Tampa admits 40% of applicants; University of South Florida admits 43%. Together they have 63,614 students on campus.A community college 2.5 miles awayHillsborough Community College in Tampa: tuition and fees $2,506 a year for Florida residents.In-state price at HillsboroughLiving in Florida, Hillsborough Community College charges $2,506 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $9,111. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 9% of residentsAbove Florida (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Tampa

Seven private colleges within 12.7 miles, one public college within 7.5 miles, and Hillsborough Community College 2.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of South FloridaHillsboroughThe University of TampaTampa
University or collegeCommunity college
The University of TampaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,018 on campus · In Tampa40%admitted$36knet price64%graduate$59kearningsSouth University-TampaUniversity or college · For-profit · 379 on campus · In Tampa$20knet price23%graduate$34kearningsEarnings are reported for all 10 campuses that file with it.Hillsborough Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 11,704 on campus · In Tampa$4knet price34%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $2,506 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concorde Career Institute-TampaUniversity or college · For-profit · 132 on campus · In Tampa96%admitted$26knet price56%graduate$36kearningsArizona College of Nursing-TampaUniversity or college · For-profit · 337 on campus · In Tampa100%admitted$37knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Florida CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 590 on campus · 7.2 mi · Temple Terrace70%admitted$24knet price54%graduate$43kearningsUniversity of South FloridaUniversity or college · Public · 40,892 on campus · In Tampa43%admitted$10knet price77%graduate$58kearningsHerzing University-TampaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 177 on campus · 8.5 mi · Tampa90%admitted$20knet price$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.Galen College of Nursing-Tampa BayUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,601 on campus · 12.7 mi · Saint Petersburg$28knet price63%graduate$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Tampa’s median household income ($75,475) falls.

University of South FloridaIn Tampa · sticker $22,859$15,224a year
South University-TampaIn Tampa · sticker $30,414$22,442a year
Florida College7.2 mi · Temple Terrace · sticker $34,870$25,004a year
Concorde Career Institute-TampaIn Tampa · sticker $31,490$29,790a year
Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay12.7 mi · Saint Petersburg · sticker $34,369$32,598a year
The University of TampaIn Tampa · sticker $51,614$34,691a year
Arizona College of Nursing-TampaIn Tampa · sticker $41,613$41,613a year
Hillsborough Community CollegeIn Tampa · sticker $9,924 · tuition $2,506—a year
Herzing University-Tampa8.5 mi · Tampa · sticker $27,494—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Tampa: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →The University of TampaSouth University-TampaHillsboroughFlorida CollegeUniversity of South FloridaGalen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay
University of South Florida77% graduate$58k earnings$18k typical debt
Hillsborough Community College34% graduate$41k earnings$10k typical debt
The University of Tampa64% graduate$59k earnings$24k typical debt
Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay63% graduate$61k earnings*$24k typical debt
Florida College54% graduate$43k earnings$12k typical debt
South University-Tampa23% graduate$34k earnings*$26k typical debt
Concorde Career Institute-Tampa56% graduate$36k earnings$10k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: South University-Tampa (10); Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay (20).

Majors

What students study in Tampa

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Tampa’s 6 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 24%Business 17%Liberal arts 11%Biology 8%Social sciences 7%Psychology 5%Everything else 28%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesHillsborough Community College · 2,681 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of South Florida · 1,197 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralUniversity of South Florida · 1,078 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of South Florida · 905 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of South Florida · 479 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of South Florida · 465 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
CriminologyUniversity of South Florida · 387 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
MarketingUniversity of South Florida · 384 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Tampa

Is Tampa a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Tampa residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Florida (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of South Florida, has 40,892 students on campus.

What colleges are in Tampa?

The University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, The University of Tampa, South University-Tampa and 2 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Tampa, and what does it cost?

Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, 2.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,506 a year for Florida residents; the federal net price, $3,861, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Hillsborough Community College cost if we live in Florida?

Tuition and fees are $2,506 a year in-state and $9,111 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,839 (under $30,000 income) to $9,924 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Tampa. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →