Florida Southern vs. UT

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with The University of Tampa in Tampa, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Tampa is larger than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (11,433 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); The University of Tampa is in Tampa, FL (Large City setting).
• Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tampa is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; The University of Tampa 17:1.

Florida Southern vs. UT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or UT? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Southern College than UT ($29,384 vs. $35,679).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 1.7% lower than at The University of Tampa ($14,360 vs. $14,612).
• Florida Southern College is 28% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT (about $9,632 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $34,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28% higher at Florida Southern than at The University of Tampa (about $9,632 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $34,408.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College than at The University of Tampa (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 96.9% larger than aid received by The University of Tampa students ($31,394 vs. $15,945).

Florida Southern vs. UT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or UT? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UT and Florida Southern.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 80 points higher than at UT (1160).
• Incoming Florida Southern students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at UT).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; The University of Tampa 1070/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; The University of Tampa 23/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; UT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at UT (3.5).
• Florida Southern has a higher acceptance rate (64.4%) than UT (40.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 16.6% at UT.

Florida Southern vs. UT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern and UT? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• The University of Tampa's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Florida Southern College's (55%).
• Graduates from The University of Tampa earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Southern College graduates have a $1,557 lower median loan debt than UT graduates ($24,000 vs. $25,557).
• Among borrowers, Florida Southern graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT graduates ($248 vs. $264).
• More UT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida Southern students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.