ASU vs. USF Main Campus

Deciding between Arizona State University and University of South Florida? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
University of South Florida

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • USF Main Campus Tampa, FL
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • USF Main Campus Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • USF Main Campus 49,622
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • USF Main Campus Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • USF Main Campus #411
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • USF Main Campus -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • USF Main Campus Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • USF Main Campus

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • USF Main Campus $6,410
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • USF Main Campus $17,324
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • USF Main Campus $14,440
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • USF Main Campus $11,579
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • USF Main Campus $10,652
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • USF Main Campus 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • USF Main Campus 68,576
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • USF Main Campus 29,621
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • USF Main Campus 43.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • USF Main Campus 23.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • USF Main Campus 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • USF Main Campus 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • USF Main Campus 3.64
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • USF Main Campus A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • USF Main Campus Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • USF Main Campus Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • USF Main Campus 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • USF Main Campus 1130/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • USF Main Campus Required
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • USF Main Campus May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • USF Main Campus 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • USF Main Campus
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • USF Main Campus 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • USF Main Campus $46,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • USF Main Campus 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • USF Main Campus $19,147
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • USF Main Campus $197

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • USF Main Campus 42%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • USF Main Campus 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • USF Main Campus High
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • USF Main Campus No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • USF Main Campus 51%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • USF Main Campus 6%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • USF Main Campus 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • USF Main Campus 21%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • USF Main Campus 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • USF Main Campus 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • USF Main Campus 4%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • USF Main Campus 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • USF Main Campus 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • USF Main Campus 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • USF Main Campus 12%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • USF Main Campus Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • USF Main Campus No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • USF Main Campus Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • USF Main Campus Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • USF Main Campus Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with University of South Florida in Tampa, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than USF Main Campus based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 49,622 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); University of South Florida is in Tampa, FL (Large City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; University of South Florida 22:1.

ASU vs. USF Main Campus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or USF Main Campus? 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 University of South Florida than ASU ($11,579 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Florida are 13.6% lower than at Arizona State University ($14,440 vs. $16,712).
  • Arizona State University is 90.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than USF Main Campus (about $5,813 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $6,410.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 91.3% higher at ASU than at University of South Florida (about $15,815 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at University of South Florida (89% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 14.3% larger than aid received by University of South Florida students ($12,172 vs. $10,652).

ASU vs. USF Main Campus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or USF Main Campus? 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 USF Main Campus and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Florida (1230) is 20 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming USF Main Campus students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; University of South Florida 1130/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; University of South Florida 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; USF Main Campus - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USF Main Campus May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman USF Main Campus students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than USF Main Campus (43.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 23.3% at USF Main Campus.

ASU vs. USF Main Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and USF Main Campus? 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).

  • Arizona State University's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than University of South Florida's (52%).
  • Graduates from Arizona State University earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than USF Main Campus graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Florida graduates have a $1,131 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($19,147 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, USF Main Campus graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($197 vs. $209).
  • More USF Main Campus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 57%)

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.