Tour Tuesday: University of Tampa
I try to visit 30–50 college campuses each year, and starting now, I’m going to share more of those experiences here on the blog. These posts will include my personal notes, impressions, and images from each stop - some practical, some purely observational. Whether you’re a prospective student, a parent, or just someone who enjoys exploring different college environments, I hope this series gives you a better sense of what these places are really like on the ground!
The University of Tampa: History, Sunshine, and a Campus in the Heart of the City
Quick Look
~11,400 total students from all 50 states and 130+ countries
Downtown Tampa campus, anchored by the historic Plant Hall (a former luxury hotel)
Acceptance rate hovers around 40%
Honors Program with an Oxford semester option
Strong in business, science, health/nursing, and arts
Division II athletics (with plenty of campus spirit)
Tuition/fees + room/board around $47,500
Nearly 1,000 local internship opportunities each year, thanks to Tampa’s growing business/tech sector
Overview
The University of Tampa (or “UT” as locals call it) is one of those campuses where history and modern ambition sit side by side. Its main building, Plant Hall, is an architectural landmark - once the Tampa Bay Hotel where Gilded Age elites came to sip cocktails under Moorish domes. Today, those same halls buzz with students dashing between classes, grabbing coffee at the two-story campus Starbucks, or prepping for internships across the city.
What struck me about UT is how rooted it is in Tampa itself. This isn’t a college that sits apart from the city - it’s very much woven into its fabric. From the skyline views right off campus to the steady hum of opportunity in business, tech, and healthcare, students here are both on a college campus and in the middle of one of Florida’s most dynamic cities.
Location
Downtown Tampa, steps from the Riverwalk and city life
Plant Hall: the iconic centerpiece, a historic hotel turned campus moniker
Arts and culture thrive on campus and beyond - new performing arts facilities, and Tampa’s music, sports, and food scenes at your doorstep
Living here means you can catch a professional hockey game at Amalie Arena on a weeknight, walk along the waterfront after class, or intern at a Fortune 500 company without leaving town. It’s very much a “city school,” but with its own green campus that feels like a home base.
Admissions Information
Acceptance rate around 40% (selective, but not unattainable)
Early Action (non-binding) is the smart move
Test-optional for most applicants
~11,400 total students, 20% from Florida, representation from all 50 states and 130+ countries
UT’s admissions landscape has gotten more competitive in recent years. It wasn’t long ago that the acceptance rate was hovering around 50%. As applications have grown, the university has leaned into finding students who are independent, assertive, and ready to make the most of a city-integrated college experience.
Academics / Major Information
200+ majors and programs
Strengths in business (AACSB accredited), sciences, health/nursing, and arts
Honors Program offers unique opportunities, including Oxford semesters abroad
Internship culture is huge: nearly 1,000 internships are available annually
Small classes (the largest has 84 seats), 18:1 student-faculty ratio, and no graduate teaching assistants
If you’re undecided, UT is a great place to explore. Advisors help freshmen pick classes their first semester, so you get a guided start while you figure out your path. Business is a major draw here - with finance students managing real investment portfolios and entrepreneurship students working in incubators and accelerators. Nursing, criminology, and performing arts are other standout programs.
One thing worth noting: this is not the school for budding engineers or future architects. UT’s strengths are in applied, people-oriented fields where connections, internships, and real-world experience are front and center.
Housing & Student Life
12 residence halls, freshmen generally live on campus
Freshmen can’t have cars (with some exceptions), but downtown walkability helps
300+ student clubs, including active Greek life
Health and counseling services are available with no session caps
Campus life is what you make it here. Greek life exists, but it doesn’t dominate. Students can be as involved as they want, whether that means joining a business fraternity, playing intramural sports, or spending evenings at campus arts events. The “two-story Starbucks” is more than just a caffeine fix - it’s a social hub. And with Tampa itself as an extension of campus, students who are independent and adventurous thrive.
Athletics
Competes in NCAA Division II across most sports
Strong school spirit with a vibrant athletic community
Competes in arguably the strongest DII conference in the nation
Athletics are a point of pride here, and while UT isn’t a Division I powerhouse, its teams are extremely competitive and its facilities are top-notch. Student-athletes manage the balance of academics and competition well, often tapping into UT’s flexible advising and support systems.
Cost and Scholarships
Tuition and fees: ~$34,400
Room and board: ~$13,000
Total cost of attendance: ~$47,500
Average student debt around $24,000
Fun Facts & Traditions
Plant Hall: Former luxury hotel that once hosted Teddy Roosevelt and Babe Ruth
Gasparilla: Tampa’s annual pirate festival is basically a city-wide holiday, and students are front and center
Oxford Semester: Honors students can spend a term studying in the legendary Oxford tutorial system
Rowing Graffiti: The UT men’s rowing team and their competition is known for making its mark - quite literally - in Tampa tradition
Between its quirky history and downtown setting, UT’s culture is part academic, part adventurous. Students get a dose of Southern hospitality mixed with cosmopolitan flair.
Final Thoughts: Who Would Thrive Here
The University of Tampa is tailor-made for students who:
want to be in the middle of a vibrant, growing city;
thrive in experiential learning (internships, labs, arts, business ventures);
are independent, assertive, and excited to navigate life without heavy parental hand-holding;
value diversity and international connections (with peers from 130+ countries);
are drawn to business, health, science, or the arts more than engineering.
This is not a quiet, tucked-away liberal arts college. UT is metropolitan, forward-leaning, and built for students who want to plug into the city around them. If that excites you, then you’ll feel right at home under the palm trees and Moorish minarets of the University of Tampa.
