Nova vs. USF Main Campus

Should I go to Nova Southeastern University or University of South Florida Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Nova or USF Main Campus is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Nova Southeastern University vs. University of South Florida Main Campus comparison
Nova Southeastern University University of South Florida Main Campus College 3 College 4
Nova Southeastern University University of South Florida Main Campus
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Overview

 Nova USF Main Campus
Location Fort Lauderdale, FL Tampa, FL
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 20,877 48,572
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #436 #413
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nova.edu usf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Nova USF Main Campus
Tuition (In State) $35,880 $4,559
Tuition (Out of State) $35,880 $15,473
Room & Board $15,950 $13,595
Avg Net Price $32,756 $11,578
Avg Grant Aid $23,120 $10,012
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 81%

Admission

 Nova USF Main Campus
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,621 65,187
Admitted 12,805 26,699
Acceptance Rate 72.7% 41%
Enrolled % 15.8% 21.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.99 3.64
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 21/28 24/29
SAT Range 1050/1310 1140/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2026

Academics

 Nova USF Main Campus
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

 Nova USF Main Campus
Graduation Rate 43% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,300 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,100 $19,147
Median Loan Payment $259 $197

Diversity

 Nova USF Main Campus
% Men 19% 9%
% Women 47% 14%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 31% 51%
% Black 18% 11%
% Hispanic 32% 21%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 5% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 Nova USF Main Campus
% In-State 56% 80%
% Out-of-State 39% 13%

Campus

 Nova USF Main Campus
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Florida Main Campus is larger than than Nova based on total student enrollment (48,572 students vs. 20,877 students)

Nova vs. USF Main Campus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nova or USF Main Campus?

  • Nova Southeastern University is 687% more expensive to attend than USF Main Campus for in-state tuition ($35,880.00 vs. $4,559.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 131.9% higher at Nova than University of South Florida Main Campus ($35,880.00 vs. $15,473.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Florida Main Campus than Nova ($11,578 vs. $32,756)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Florida Main Campus are 17.3% lower than costs at Nova Southeastern University ($13,595 vs. $15,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Nova Southeastern University than University of South Florida Main Campus (100% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nova Southeastern University students is 130.9% larger than aid received University of South Florida Main Campus ($23,120 vs. $10,012)

Nova vs. USF Main Campus Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nova or USF Main Campus? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USF Main Campus or Nova .

  • The average SAT score at University of South Florida Main Campus (1177) is 47 points higher than at Nova (1130)
  • Incoming Nova students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at USF Main Campus (26)
  • Accepted freshman Nova students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at USF Main Campus (3.64)
  • Nova has a higher acceptance rate (72.7%) than USF Main Campus (41%)

Nova vs. USF Main Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Nova or USF Main Campus? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USF Main Campus and Nova.

  • The graduation rate at USF Main Campus is higher than Nova Southeastern University (52% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Nova Southeastern University earn on average $6,800 more per year than USF Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($53,300 vs. $46,500)
  • University of South Florida Main Campus students graduate with a $5,953 lower median federal student loan debt than Nova graduates. ($19,147 vs. $25,100)
  • USF Main Campus graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Nova graduates. ($197 vs. $259)
  • More USF Main Campus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nova students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/