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NewsWFLA News TampaAugust 14, 2026Hillsborough

University of South Florida opens $33 million nursing building expansion

The University of South Florida has opened a 42,000-square-foot nursing facility expansion funded by a $33 million state investment. The project aims to address Florida's projected shortage of nearly 20,000 registered nurses by increasing enrollment capacity by 500 students by 2028.

nursinghigher educationhealthcare workforceinfrastructureFlorida
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Why It Matters

This expansion increases the state's capacity to train registered nurses, directly impacting the healthcare workforce pipeline in Florida over the next decade.

Key Facts

  • The University of South Florida opened a 42,000-square-foot nursing building expansion.
  • The project received a $33 million investment from the state of Florida.
  • The expansion is projected to increase nursing enrollment by 500 students by 2028.
  • Florida is projected to face a shortage of nearly 20,000 registered nurses over the next decade.
  • The USF College of Nursing currently has approximately 2,000 students.
  • Undergraduate enrollment at the USF College of Nursing has grown by 12%.
  • The new facility includes laboratories, simulation rooms, and clinical training spaces.
  • The facility is intended to serve the healthcare needs of the entire state of Florida, not just the Tampa area.

Who's Mentioned

organizationTGH“Tampa General Hospital health system.”personUsha Menon“College of Nursing Dean at USF.”other500“Targeted increase in nursing student enrollment by 2028.”personAriana Sawyer“Student Council President for the USF College of Nursing.”personJohn Couris“President and CEO of FL Health Sciences Center at TGH.”organizationUniversity of South Florida“The institution expanding its nursing college facilities.”other42,000“Square footage of the new expansion.”