Points of Pride
鶹AV Points of Pride graphic. The 鶹AV letters take display an image of students socializing at Tampa campus.
Maintined by the Office of Decision Support and the Office of the Provost. Last Updated: January 2025
鶹AV joins prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU).
鶹AV is the first public university in Florida to be invited to join the AAU in nearly 40 years and is now one of only two institutions from the State University System of Florida to serve as an AAU member.
鶹AV is also one of the youngest institutions to be welcomed into the AAU, a reflection of the university’s fast rise. Of the association’s now 71 members, 鶹AV is the fifth youngest and one of only six AAU universities to be founded after 1950.

- U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) ranks 鶹AV 45th among public universities and 91st among all public and private universities (2025).
- 鶹AV ranks 45th among U.S. public institutions (marking the eleventh consecutive year ranked in the top 50) in the world according to the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
- The 鶹AV is home to a student body of 48,732 students representing over 146 different countries.
- U.S. News ranks 鶹AV as the “best value” among all Florida universities (2025).
- According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), 鶹AV Tampa ranks #49 of the best U.S. public colleges and universities (2024).
- According to the most recently published Top American Research Universities (TARU) report, 鶹AV Tampa remains ranked as a top 50 university among public institutions and is now ranked in the top 50 among all institutions (2020).
- 鶹AV ranks 22nd among public institutions and 47th among all institutions according to the 2024 Washington Monthly National University Rankings.
- In 2018, 鶹AV was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Society, the oldest and most prestigious national honor organization in America.
- 鶹AV ranks in the top 50 of all public institutions according to Forbes’ America’s Top Colleges (2024).
- 鶹AV is now a "Preeminent State Research University", as designated by the Florida Board of Governors in June of 2018.
- The Institute of International Education has ranked 鶹AV 30th in the nation among all public institutions and 39th among doctoral universities as a Leading Institution Awarding Credit for Study Abroad in the 2020-2021 academic year, according to the most recent Open Doors annual report.
- U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) ranked 鶹AV 57th among the Best Colleges for Veterans ().
Image of male student socializing with female student. On the image the following ranking is displayed: Top 50 public universities for sixth year in a row. 2025 U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) National University Rankings.
- The Princeton Review ranked 鶹AV in the top 50 best value college among public institutions for providing students with high-quality education and career readiness at an affordable cost (2025).
- 鶹AV is ranked among the best in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) Online Education Program rankings. 鶹AV has four online graduate programs ranked in the top 100, including Education, Engineering, and both MBA- and non-MBA business. U.S. News ranks the online MBA program in the top 25, second in the state of Florida, and #28 for veterans.
- 鶹AV's fall 2024 Freshman academic profile holds an average SAT score of 1306 and a high school GPA of 4.23, which exceeds the Florida Board of Governors Preeminence benchmarks.
- Morsani College of Medicine 2028 Class is an academically talented class with an average MCAT score of 520 placing it among the 97th percentile with a GPA of 3.95.
- 鶹AV is a recipient of the 2019 American Council on Education/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation, a recognition of 鶹AV’s commitment to student success.
- Times Higher Education Impact Rankings place 鶹AV in the top 100 universities in the U.S. for its sustainable development. 鶹AV is also leading in its efforts to end poverty, protect oceans and to strengthen partnerships throughout the world (2024).
- 鶹AV was home to 75 national scholarship and fellowship student awardees during the
2023-2024 academic year including Fulbright, Gilman, and Goldwater.
- 鶹AV’s graduate-level programs continue to be ranked among the best according to the
2025 U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) Graduate School Rankings. 鶹AV graduate programs in the top 50 include:
Industrial and Organizational Psychology – 3 (No. 1 in Florida)
Criminology – 18
Rehabilitation Counseling – 18 (No. 1 in Florida)
Audiology – 20 (No. 1 in Florida)
Nursing – Master’s – 23 (No. 1 in Florida)
Public Health – 27 (No. 1 in Florida)
Library and Information Studies – 29
Business – Part‐time MBA – 38
Speech-Language Pathology – 39
Healthcare Management – 41
Nursing – Anesthesia – 41 (No. 1 in Florida)
Physical Therapy – 42
Medical – Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas/Medically Underserved Areas – 42
Engineering – Industrial/Manufacturing/Systems – 44
Education – Overall – 49 - 鶹AV Health Morsani College of Medicine is the top-ranked medical school in Florida and has been named the to the highest tier of medical schools in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report (2025).
- 鶹AV is ranked #10 in the nation and #2 among southern institutions in the 2025 Princeton Review Best Graduate Entrepreneurship program rankings.
- U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) ranked 鶹AV 57th among the Best Colleges for Veterans ().
- 鶹AV is one of only 18 universities in the nation selected as a Tillman Partnership University of the Pat Tillman Foundation, a selection based on innovative veteran-specific support services and proven culture of community for military families.
- 鶹AV was designated as a Voter Friendly Campus two years in a row (, 2021-22, 2023-24).
- For the second consecutive time, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge has recognized 鶹AV by awarding the Highly Established Action Plan Seal for a strong action plan to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement by promoting civic learning, political engagement, and college student voter participation ().
Two women working on a computer. In the image a ranking is displayed that says: Number 7 in the nation for top producers of Fulbright Scholars.
- 鶹AV faculty continue to earn national and international recognition. 鶹AV faculty earned 121 national and international awards in 2024.
- The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked 鶹AV among the top 15 institutions in the nation for Top Producer of Fulbright Scholars, with 6 faculty scholars for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- In America’s Best Employers by State, 鶹AV ranks No. 1 among the state's public universities and No. 30 compared to employers across industries.
- In 2024, four 鶹AV faculty were elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which is recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious honors for academic research. As of February 2025, 鶹AV had a total of 95 AAAS Fellows among its faculty.
- 鶹AV is among America’s best employers for women in Education, according to a new list published by Forbes. 鶹AV ranks No. 19 on the list (2024). Forbes also included 鶹AV on its national list of 500 “Dream Employers” (2024).
Image of a solar powered boating device in the ocean. The image displays text that reads: Number 8 in the nation among public universities, and 15th worlwide for granted U.S. patents.
- 鶹AV’s innovation and economic development efforts generate more than $582 million in statewide impact each year, sustain more than 4,000 jobs and return more than $71 million in tax revenue to local, state and federal coffers, according to a 2019 analysis from the Washington Economics Group, a leading national firm.
- The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame established at the 鶹AV in 2013, celebrates the state’s most visionary innovators whose breakthroughs have shaped industries and improved lives. As of 2024, 77 trailblazing inventors have been inducted, including 15 distinguished pioneers from 鶹AV, solidifying Florida’s legacy of ingenuity and impact on the world stage.
- In FY2024, the Florida High Tech Corridor Matching Grants Research Program awarded more than $1.7 million to support 20 research projects across six 鶹AV colleges. These funds, in part, support more than 70 student research engagements with industry.
- Through its Early-Stage Innovation Fund, the Corridor awarded $200,000 to support eight faculty as they further drive their innovations toward commercial viability and community impact. Projects focused on critical infrastructure, AI literacy, vaccine development, advancement in education, and beyond.
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The Florida High Tech Corridor and 鶹AV Research & Innovation deployed $110,000 for the second year in a row to support more than 70 students in undergraduate research programs across nine Colleges at 鶹AV.
- In fiscal year 2023, 鶹AV had more than $461 million in total research expenditures (National Science Foundation HERD Survey).
- 鶹AV is 14th in the nation among public universities and 34th worldwide among all universities in generating new patents (National Academy of Inventors, 2023).
- 鶹AV is one of 135 public research universities nationwide classified as a Doctoral
University with “Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production” by the Carnegie
Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This classification is a distinction
only bestowed on universities with at least $50 million in annual research spending
and 70 research doctorates. 鶹AV is one of six public universities in the state of
Florida classified as such (2025).
- 鶹AV is the founder and home of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) (), a non-profit member organization with over 4,600 individual members, including fellows, senior members, and chapter members, affiliated with more than 260 institutions worldwide. The NAI’s nationally recognized fellows program has more than 2,068 elected fellows, including more than 170 presidents and senior leaders of research universities, governmental and non-profit research institutes; about 755 members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine; about 63 inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame; 70 recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation and U.S. National Medal of Science; and 57 Nobel Laureates, among other awards and distinctions. Collectively, the Fellows hold more than 68,000 issued U.S. patents, which have generated over 20,000 licensed technologies, 4,000 companies and created more than 1.2 million jobs. In addition, over $3.2 trillion in revenue has been generated based on NAI Fellow discoveries. In addition, there are currently 715 Senior Members, holding almost 7,000 U.S. patents and representing over 100 NAI Member Institutions worldwide.
- 鶹AV is designated by the Association for Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) as an Innovation & Economic Prosperity University, one of only 91 in the nation (2024).
- 鶹AV won the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities' (APLU) 2019 Institutional Award for Global Learning, Research & Engagement and 2023 International Impact Award for Global Teaching and Learning. The Platinum Level APLU award focuses on areas of excellence, including: internationalization of research and engagement, leadership and pervasiveness, and assessment.
- 鶹AV achieved a record-breaking $738 million in research funding during fiscal year 2024 – up nearly 7% over the previous year and an impressive increase of 35% since 2022.
- 鶹AV’s Tampa Bay Technology Incubator serviced 67 resident and affiliate companies this past year (FY2023). Its current companies have created more than 477 jobs and received $416 million in funding to date. 鶹AV’s Student Innovation Incubator, which was launched in 2013 at the request of students eager to start their own companies, has supported over 250 student-led companies to date, with approximately 26 new companies each year (FY2023).
- For the 12th consecutive year, the 鶹AV is one of the nation's top 20 public research universities for producing new U.S. utility patents, according to a new ranking released today by the National Academy of Inventors. Based on the 82 new patents secured in 2024, 鶹AV is 16th among U.S. public research universities, 26th among all U.S. public or private universities and 38th among universities worldwide.
A masked man holding a box at a market. In image text is displayed that reads: Number 2 for top-volunteer producing graduate schools.
- 鶹AV is one of 107 public research universities nationwide classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral University with “Very High Research Activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The title of “Very High Research Activity” is a distinction attained by less than 4% of all post-secondary institutions. 鶹AV is one of five public universities in the state of Florida classified as such (2024).
- 鶹AV was recognized as a Silver Rated Institution in the Sustainable Campus Index.
- U.S. News ranks 鶹AV as the “best value” among all Florida universities (2025).
- 鶹AV is featured in Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges as an institution of higher education that demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability in its academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation (2024).
- 鶹AV had a total economic impact of $6.02 billion in fiscal 2019-20.
- With 16,277 employees, 鶹AV is the 14th largest public employer in Florida.
- In the 2019-20 fiscal year, 鶹AV-related direct spending, together with ripple effects, supported 68,704 jobs in Florida.
- 鶹AV spending generated more than $600 million in federal, state and local tax revenue.
- The university amassed a record total of $535.4 million in research contracts and grants, building a powerful research and innovation enterprise that produces new knowledge and technologies.
- U.S. News and World Report ranks 鶹AV No. 3 in Florida and No. 22 nationally for social mobility (2025).
Boundless Bulls
Boundless Bulls is a collection of stories about what truly makes 鶹AV great, the people. It is a focus on our community footprint, our impact and the trajectory of where we can go together. Dive in and learn more about the everyday impact our students, faculty, staff and alumni are making within our community and beyond.

- U.S. News ranks 鶹AV as the “best value” among all Florida universities (2025).
- Approximately 35% of 鶹AV students receive a Pell grant, which is awarded to undergraduates from lower-income families (2023).
- U.S. News and World Report ranks 鶹AV No. 3 in Florida and No. 22 nationally for social mobility (2025).
- More than 4,000 鶹AV students are the first in their families to attend college (2023).
- Reflecting 鶹AV’s impact on social mobility, approximately one in three new students in the fall 2023 class are eligible for Pell Grants, which is a federal financial aid program for students from lower-income families.
- 鶹AV earns Collegiate Purple Star Campus designation, which recognizes higher education institutions that provide critical support to military-connected students and families (2024).
- In 2024, 鶹AV was designated a Network Member of First-Gen Forward for its demonstrated commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.
Woman volleyball player is about to bump the ball during a game. In the image text is displayed that reads: 鶹AV has had 16 alumni compete as athletes in the Olympic Games.
- 鶹AV Athletics serves nearly 500 student-athletes who train and compete in the Tampa General Hospital Athletics District on the east end of the Tampa campus.
- 鶹AV fields 21 men’s and women’s varsity teams, 20 of which compete at the NCAA Division I level. 鶹AV most recently added women’s lacrosse and beach volleyball to its varsity sports offerings.
- In the last six years, 鶹AV has had eight different programs achieve top 25 national rankings, including football and men’s and women’s basketball.
- 鶹AV women’s basketball has been coached by Jose Fernandez since 2000 and has made ten appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Fernandez is the all-time winningest coach in program history and the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
- Men’s indoor track and field, coached by Erik Jenkins, is one of 鶹AV’s programs on the rise. The men have won back-to-back conference championships and are nationally ranked in the Top 25.
- 鶹AV has claimed 16 national championships in varsity athletics, 15 by individuals and one team title as the women’s swimming team won the 1985 NCAA Division II national championship.
- 鶹AV has claimed 152 conference titles since it began intercollegiate athletic competition in 1965.
- 鶹AV has won 35 conference titles since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013.
- 141 鶹AV student-athletes have earned All-America honors all-time.
- Since joining the American Athletic Conference, the Bulls have received 51 Conference Player or Rookie of the Year awards, and 18 coaches or coaching staff members have been named Coach of the Year.
- 鶹AV Athletics has posted a combined grade-point average over 3.0 for 20 straight semesters, a department record.
- More than 750 鶹AV student-athletes have earned their degrees since 2015.
- Bulls have earned 24 Academic All-American honors, including five student-athletes that were twice honored.
- During the 2023-24 academic year, 鶹AV student-athletes, coaches, and staff contributed 3,107 hours of community service and they have logged more than 6,500 hours over a three-year period.
- 鶹AV has had 22 alumni compete as athletes in the Olympic Games and one gold medalist in women’s soccer.
- 鶹AV softball coach Ken Eriksen led the U.S. Olympic Women’s Softball Team to a silver
medal for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
- 鶹AV football celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021 and is the fastest program in the state of Florida to reach 150 wins. The Bulls spent a program-record of 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
- In 2024, 鶹AV vs. Miami was the most attended home game in the American Athletic Conference (58,616), with more than 15,000 students, a record student crowd.
- Of the American’s top 10 most watched football games, 鶹AV was featured in two of them: 鶹AV vs. Alabama on ESPN (2.58 million) and 鶹AV vs. San Jose State (Hawai’i Bowl) on ESPN (1.93 million).
- 鶹AV football’s matchup with San Jose State in the Hawai’i Bowl was the most watched Hawai’i Bowl since 2019. There was a 104% increase in viewership in 2024 vs. 2023.
- In November 2024, 鶹AV broke ground on its on-campus stadium. The $340 million, 35,000-seat stadium and Tampa General Hospital Center for Athletic Excellence is set to open on the east end of the Tampa campus in 2027.
- 鶹AV has invested nearly $100 million in renovating and maintaining some of the top athletic facilities in the nation, including the $22 million Indoor Performance Facility that opened in 2023 and a master facilities plan that includes upgrades to all athletic facilities as 鶹AV positions itself as one of the finest athletic districts in all of college sports.
- The $2 million Bulls Broadcast and Video Productions Center inside the Muma Basketball Center streams more than 160 events annually on ESPN+, the most in the American Athletic Conference.
- The Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center is the hub of 鶹AV Athletics and includes state-of-the art space for academic support services, life skills training, mentoring and team-building.
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In 2024, 鶹AV was one of the first in the country to announce the addition of a new NIL Strategy Unit to enhance student-athletes' visibility in the name, image, and likeness space.
- Since 2018, 鶹AV Athletics has nearly doubled its budget to $100 million.
- Bulls Club, the fundraising arm of 鶹AV Athletics, set a new record by raising over $42 million during the 2023-24 fiscal year. The club also reached an all-time high of 4,016 donors, marking a 12% year-over-year increase.
- Front Office Sports named 鶹AV Athletics one of the “Best College Athletic Departments" for 2024. The award is presented to institutions whose athletic departments serve as a national model for innovation and maximizing the success of their student-athletes.
- Notable former 鶹AV student-athletes include: Chucky Atkins (men’s basketball), Jeff Attinella (men’s soccer), Jeff Cunningham (men’s soccer), B.J. Daniels (football), Quinton Flowers (football), Shane McClanahan (baseball), Jason Pierre-Paul (football), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (football), Courtney Williams (women’s basketball)
Man washing vegetables and herbs at an outdoor sink. In the image there is text that reads: Number 1 in Florida, Number 8 in the nation for the 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.
- 鶹AV is featured in Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges as an institution of higher education that demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability in its academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation (2025).
- 鶹AV was recognized as a Silver Rated Institution in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index.
- 鶹AV was named a Tree Campus USA® for the thirteenth consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation
- 鶹AV Tampa ranks #63 for sustainability among public institutions (Sierra Club, 2021).
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Times Higher Education Impact Rankings place 鶹AV in the top 100 universities in the U.S. for its sustainable development. 鶹AV is also leading in its efforts to end poverty, protect oceans and to strengthen partnerships throughout the world (2024).
- 鶹AV was named a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists: Tampa Silver Award, St. Petersburg Bronze Award (2024)
- 鶹AV’s campuses each have a Green Energy Fund, funded by student fees, to support projects proposed by students, faculty and staff to reduce our campuses’ carbon footprint, environmentally friendly and sustainable.