The University of South Florida (USF), known as a Pre-eminent Research University, is located in the vibrant Tampa Bay region. USF, a young university established in the year 1956, is ranked number 1 in Florida state according to the Intellectual Property Owners Association/NAI (2018). 

It is because of universities like the University of South Florida (USF) that Florida state is ranked No.1 (for the 3rd consecutive year) for its higher education system among all the 50 states in the US by the US News and World Report. The primary reason for this high ranking is its ability to maintain a low and affordable tuition fee. All this while prioritizing career and life pathways, thus allowing its students to graduate with fewer debts and more opportunities.

USF, one of the most affordable universities in the US, serves more than 50,000 students through 14 colleges spread over 1,562 acres. Ubergrad takes great pride in the fact that it has now partnered with USF (a golden age university - universities founded between 1945-1967, which are now aged more than 50 years but less than 80 years).

Why University of South Florida?

USF is a research-strong university, providing a plethora of career options and goals for international students looking to pursue their higher education. With attributes like high standard education, qualified professors, state-of-the-art facilities, sunny skies, and vibrant city life at a metropolitan location, the USF is indeed an appealing option for international students.

• USF has a student count of 50,755 from a whopping 145 different countries. 
• The highest percentage of international students comprise of Indians with 952 students, a majority of this are for graduate courses.
• The University of South Florida ranks 28th in the US for its total research expenditure.
• Many Fortune 500 companies target USF graduates for their recruitment needs. 
• While keeping its tuition fee low, the USF is also generous with its financial aid and scholarships for international students. 
• The USF provides 180 plus options for majors and research experiences, with top-notch student resources. 
• It has an award-winning recreation center with outdoor pools, innumerable student clubs, and its very own beach.
• Ranked 5^th in the nation for its employment opportunities, Florida is home to 15 of the Fortune 500 companies. 

Now that you understand why international students are thronging to the University of South Florida, let us now look at what Indian students studying in the USF have to say about this wonderful university. 

Raj Patel

Raj Patel is an Indian student who has found his second home at the University of South Florida. He started with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biomedical Science and a minor in Public Health. He stayed on at USF and is currently pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Management. 

Mr. Patel, who wants to be a Neurologist and is planning to begin Medical School in 2020, could have chosen any university. He says “I applied to basically every school in Florida. Part of it was that Tampa Bay is a great place to live and it has a large Indian population. But I chose USF mainly because it had the best track record in medical research.’’

David Ponraj

Similar to Raj Patel, David Ponraj is an alumnus of USF. He has earned his Bachelor's Degree in International Business in the year 2008. Upon finishing his Bachelor’s Degree, he returned back to India. After a few years, he went back to work at Nielsen Research in Pinellas County. While working at Nielsen, Mr. Ponraj decided to pursue an MBA at USF. 

David Ponraj says “A big part of it was location, I actually wanted to go to a campus and not do it online. USF St. Pete was perfect for me.’’

He graduated in the year 2017 and built his own app called Startup Space. It helps people start small-medium sized businesses.

Mr. Ponraj, who is now 36 and residing in Dunedin, owes it to USF. He says “USF was definitely a catalyst with my personal journey. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do when I first got to USF, but USF prepared me for all this.’’

Aditya Sharma

Aditya Sharma is another former international student at the University of South Florida from India. He completed his bachelors in Computer Science in India and went on to pursue his Masters in Information Technology. 

After graduating in 2018, he went on to work under Dr. Xuehao Chu, to facilitate his research of analyzing individual pedestrian crashes of all severities. 

Although his career looks bright abroad, he has plans to eventually return back to India. 

He says, “My plan has always been to return to India, and I plan to do that in the next two or three years. But going to USF was one of my best decisions. USF molded me into a better person. I want to give what I learned at USF back to my country.’’

It is quite evident that Indian students love to study at the University of South Florida, owing to the innumerable career and lifestyle options it offers.

If you are also thinking about studying in this wonderful university or any other university abroad, and are unsure about how to go about it, you can always contact our Student Support Team.