Campus Spotlight: University of Tampa

When I arrived at the University of Tampa (UT) campus, it was the week before spring finals. The first thing that struck me was how incredibly calm the campus seemed. While I am sure that there were students holed up in dorm rooms and quieter sections of the library, frantically studying for exams and putting the finishing touches on final assignments, none of this anxious fervor was apparent on the greater campus. Students seemed relaxed, confident, and eager to connect with each other and the curious college consultant who peppered them with questions about their experience at UT. I’m sure the year-round sunshine and warm temperatures help but there is something more to this welcoming campus community.

Another thing that stood out as I explored the campus was how few students were sitting alone. Almost everyone seemed to have a friend or two with whom they were happily chatting or exchanging pleasantries. At one point, as our tour group passed through the John H. Sykes College of Business, home to many of UT’s most popular business and economics majors, I noticed a number of students sitting alone on benches in the hallway that stretched between classrooms. Ah, I thought, so here’s where the lonely students are. However, in the minutes that followed, every single student was surrounded by a small group of friends and classmates who seemed genuinely excited to see each other. With recent studies supporting the importance of a sense of belonging in college student retention and academic performance, it is encouraging to see so many students engaging with each other on campus. In fact, University of Tampa’s first year retention rate is 80%. Graduation rate is 60%, just over the midpoint for 4-year schools in the U.S. (58%).

The friendly and welcoming atmosphere at UT is ideal for social students who enjoy being a part of a community while actively pursuing their own academic and extracurricular interests. In fact, the University of Tampa’s active and engaged student body is not just a matter of chance. Approximately half of the students come from out of state, including about 1,200 international students. In 2022, the student body of approximately 10,500 students represented all 50 states and 130 countries. With so many students coming from far away, fewer students head home for the weekend so the student body is focused on creating community and getting involved on campus and in the local Tampa area.

Though Spartans are a social bunch, the campus does not have a “party school” vibe and Greek Life, though active and available for those who desire it, does not dominate the social scene. While some of the students I interacted with were involved in Greek life, many were not and all felt that they were able to find their home in the UT social scene