What Verdica's 787 score means for University of South Florida
University of South Florida's composite score of 787 out of 850 places it in Verdica's "strong" band (740–799), indicating solid institutional health across the dimensions measured. This score reflects an education provider that meets or exceeds regulatory standards and demonstrates consistent performance in accreditation, student outcomes reporting, and compliance obligations.
A score in the strong band suggests the institution is not at immediate risk of regulatory sanction and maintains the basic operational and financial stability expected of a legitimate higher-education provider. Readers should interpret this as a baseline indicator that the university has passed key gatekeeping checks—it holds valid accreditation, meets federal Title IV funding compliance requirements, and reports student data accurately to the Department of Education. This is not an endorsement of program quality or value, but rather a signal that the provider operates within the regulatory framework and has not triggered red flags in the accreditation or compliance systems that Verdica monitors.
How the sub-scores break down
Accreditation (845/850): This near-maximum score indicates that University of South Florida holds active, valid regional or national accreditation from a recognized accrediting body and has not been placed on probation, warning status, or show-cause orders. Accreditation is the primary quality gate for higher education; without it, an institution cannot legally offer federal financial aid. A score this high reflects clean accreditation standing with no recent sanctions or compliance warnings from accreditors.
Student Outcomes (685/850): This mid-range score in the acceptable band suggests the university reports standard student outcome metrics—such as graduation rates, retention rates, employment outcomes, and loan repayment rates—in line with IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) submissions, but does not stand out as exceptional. A score of 685 is not a red flag; it indicates the institution reports data on time and meets baseline disclosure requirements. However, it also signals that outcomes data may show performance below national averages in one or more key metric, or that data completeness or consistency is ordinary rather than above average.
Compliance (835/850): This high score reflects strong adherence to Title IV regulations, timely filing of required reports to federal oversight bodies, and no recent findings of material noncompliance. Title IV compliance touches student loan administration, financial aid disbursement, enrollment verification, and Clery Act crime reporting. A score this high suggests the institution's administrative systems are functioning and audits have not surfaced significant gaps.
What regulators in FL track for education providers
Florida's education providers are overseen by the U.S. Department of Education (federal level) and state regulatory agencies. Verdica's underlying data reflects three key regulator data streams:
Accreditation status is maintained by regional accreditors (such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) and specialized accreditors. Regulators track whether an institution is in good standing, on probation, or under sanction. Violations that lower this score include loss of accreditation, accreditor sanctions, or failure to maintain required accreditation.
Title IV compliance tracks federal student aid administration. The Department of Education monitors whether institutions correctly disburse aid, verify student enrollment, manage loan servicer contracts, report loan cohort default rates, and comply with disclosure and consumer protection rules. Material violations include misappropriation of aid funds, false enrollment certification, or systematic reporting failures.
IPEDS data includes graduation rates, retention rates, tuition and fees, student demographics, and program completion metrics. Regulators use IPEDS to identify institutions with persistently low outcomes or data anomalies that warrant investigation.
Bottom line
University of South Florida's 787 score places it in a strong compliance and regulatory posture—the institution is accredited, meets federal aid requirements, and reports student data reliably. Anyone considering enrollment, employment, or business partnership should verify specific program accreditation, compare student outcome metrics against peers, and review any recent audit or Title IV correspondence through public databases for additional assurance.