With more than 2.5 million residents, Tampa Bay is the most populous and affluent metropolitan area in Florida. A thriving business community, vibrant arts scene and intriguing historic districts make the area one of the world’s most desirable in which to live.

Named one of the five most diverse, integrated urban areas in the United States by the U.S. Census Bureau, Tampa is a dynamic, multicultural city rated by Hispanic Magazine as the “Top City in the U.S. for Hispanics.” Expansion Management Magazine has listed Tampa among “America’s Best Places to Live and Work,” and the Forbes/Milken Institute listed Tampa Bay as one of the “Best Places for Business and Career.”

From historic Ybor City or the nearby Greek community of Tarpon Springs, to the thrills of Busch Gardens, there are numerous attractions, social and sports venues, performance halls, museums, theaters, shopping locations and restaurants to explore. Add in an average annual temperature of 72 degrees, and it’s no wonder nearly 90,000 of 200,000 graduates since USF’s first commencement in 1964 continue to live in the Tampa Bay area.

Business

USF recognizes the value of its location in a major metropolitan area and links its research, teaching and experiential learning to the vast resources of the area. Rich opportunities for student internships, part-time jobs, and cooperative education experiences relevant to career goals are within reach in all fields. The city and the university work collaboratively on many major projects such as the Florida High Tech Corridor which focuses economic and educational resources to help attract and retain high tech industry in the area. Forbes recently rated Tampa Bay one of the top 10 locations in the country for technology- related jobs because of the presence of graduates from USF’s engineering and computer sciences programs.

The Arts

Culture aficionados relish the amazing number of choices available throughout Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s 300,000 square-foot complex is the largest and busiest in the South with on-going local, national and international performances including symphony, opera, ballet and Broadway theater. The Florida Orchestra performs at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater and the Mahaffey Theatre in St. Petersburg, as well as at the Performing Arts Center in Tampa. USF’s Sun Dome, College of the Arts and Tampa’s St. Pete Times Forum are the sites of additional concerts and performances that appeal to every age and taste in music.

Museums

USF’s Contemporary Art Museum complements several other museums in the area, including the University of Tampa’s Scarfone Gallery, the Tampa Bay History Center and the Museum of African-American Art. Other museums of note include: the Dali Museum, the Florida Holocaust Museum, the Florida International Museum, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Museum of Fine Arts and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Sports

Tampa Bay is a hotbed of sports activity boasting professional teams in football, baseball, hockey and arena football that include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Tampa Bay Storm. The New York Yankees also reside in Tampa during spring training and play their games at Steinbrenner Field. And USF’s membership in the Big East Conference has added excitement to the college sports scene.

Recreation

The Tampa Bay area offers plenty of opportunity for fun, adventure and relaxation. Miles of the most pristine beaches in the country are an easy drive away and are available for year-round swimming, boating, jet-skiing and fishing. Theme parks are plentiful with major attractions like Busch Gardens and Adventure Island minutes from the Tampa campus. Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Sea World are about an hour away. And for nature enthusiasts, The Florida Aquarium and Lowry Park Zoo provide perfect eco-driven diversions. Parks, trails, rivers and lakes for camping, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, hiking and other outdoor activities abound.

Travel

Recognized as “America’s Favorite Airport,” Tampa International Airport (TIA) is consistently voted one of the best in the world. Centrally located, TIA is just 14 miles from the USF Tampa campus.