With a combination of city and beachfront, downtown Tampa has a thriving social scene, while the nearby beaches of St. Petersburg and Clearwater offer water sports and other beach activities. Tampa’s metro area has a number of institutions to choose from, including public institutions and liberal arts colleges. See the list of colleges in the Tampa metro area below.

• University of Tampa

The campus of the University of Tampa is just blocks away from downtown Tampa.

• University of South Florida

The University of South Florida, or USF, is a large public school that is committed to research.

• St. Petersburg College

Founded in 1927, St. Petersburg College is a public institution.

• South University-Tampa

South University-Tampa is a proprietary institution.

• Saint Leo University

A private Catholic school in Florida, Saint Leo University offers more than 70 clubs, about a dozen fraternities and sororities, and varsity athletics.

• Pasco-Hernando State College

Pasco-Hernando State College is a public institution.

• Florida College

Founded in 1946, Florida College is a private institution.

• Eckerd College

Located near the Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida, Eckerd College offers various art exhibitions, poetry slams and guest lectures.