University of South Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 24, 2009) A new academic year has begun at the University of South Florida, welcoming 46,612 students across the university system today. The student body has grown a modest 2.3 percent from fall 2008, consistent with the university’s efforts to carefully manage enrollment growth across its campuses.

While official enrollment numbers are not available until later in the semester, 4,428 new freshmen, 4,924 new transfer students, and 2,524 new graduate students began classes today. Freshman figures reflect enrollment in the summer and fall semesters as USF continues to strengthen and expand its student success programs for freshmen. Freshman enrollment also includes 531 students admitted to the USF Honors College with an average SAT score of 1355.

The class of 2013 is also reflective of the university’s longstanding commitment to diversity. Nearly 38 percent of the freshman class identified their ethnicity as something other than Caucasian, an increase of nearly 2 percent from last year’s freshman class.

Graduate enrollment is also on the rise, especially doctoral-level students, which saw an increase of 13.1 percent of new student enrollment from last year. Overall, graduate students comprise 20.3 percent of the USF student body. Graduate studies and research are the hallmarks of the Tampa campus as a premier destination for world-class graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty.

USF By the Numbers

Total Enrollment – 46,612 (increase of 1,027 students, or 2.3 percent, from 2008)

·         Undergraduate – 35,864 (increase of 790 students, or 2.3 percent)

·         Graduate – 9,113 (increase of 145 students, or 11.6 percent)

·         Non-Degree Seeking – 1,635 (increase of 92 students, or 6.0 percent)

USF Tampa – 39,357 (increase of 795 students, or 2.1 percent)

USF St. Petersburg – 3,893 (increase of 196 students, or 5.3 percent)

USF Sarasota-Manatee – 2,075 (increase of 65 students, or 3.2 percent)

USF Polytechnic – 1,287 (decrease of 29 students, or -2.2 percent)