The University of South Florida (USF) is one of the top public research universities in the United States. It has earned the distinction of being recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as one of only 25 universities in America to have an abundance of community-engaged research activities. USF focuses its research efforts on solving local, regional and global societal problems such as the effects of oil spills on regional economies and habitats. USF's main campus is located in Tampa and serves about 40,000 students. It offers numerous athletic opportunities at a Division I level, where it competes in the Big East conference. USF offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in more than 250 degree programs.
The University of Tampa is a smaller college serving about 6,500 students. About half of the student body is from Florida, while the remainder is made up of students from across the United States and international countries. It offers numerous athletic opportunities at the Division II level. The University of Tampa offers certificate, pre-professional and continuing-studies program certifications as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees. Its programs are focused on practical application and hence offers certifications in major languages such as Spanish, French and German as well as courses of study in pre-law, pre-dentistry and pre-medicine as well as pre-veterinary science.
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) has five primary campus locations throughout Hillsborough County, including one in Tampa. Associate's degrees are offered in a variety of fields of study and include college preparatory coursework in arts, science, health science and technical programs. HCC also offers distance learning that students can use to complete online classes. HCC's largest campus is located on Dale Mabry Highway directly across from Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL team plays its games.