TAMPA, Fla. — A new college program is coming to the University of South Florida.

What You Need To Know

  • The University of South Florida has announced the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing

  • According to USF, it’s the first named college in the country dedicated to the convergence of AI and cybersecurity

  • Offering both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the college will also offer AI driven research to help develop cybersecurity solutions

  • The new college will be open for the Fall 2025 semester

The university announced the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, after local tech entrepreneur and investor Arnie Bellini.

It is helping put Tampa on the map when it comes to cybersecurity.

“(It's) a very important center piece for the Tampa Bay area,” said Bellini. “This is an important investment in the future of, not only the Tampa Bay area but, in the United States of America.”

According to USF, it’s the first named college in the country dedicated to the convergence of AI and cybersecurity, designed to increase access to AI and cyber education. It comes with a $40 million gift from Bellini, establishing the college.

“You could not think of a better job career path than cybersecurity," Bellini said. "It will be here forever. We’ll always need to have digital warriors on the wall.”

The college will have 3,000 students and 45 faculty members on day one. The plan is to grow that number, with 5,500 students by the end of year three. 

“With this generous gift from the Bellini's, we’re going to jump start and propagate much faster and quicker to move in that direction,” said USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra.

It will help provide a way to high-paying jobs for graduates and filling a workforce need.

“The students that graduate from here will have, not just textbook experience but, hands-on experience," says Bellini. "They will be ready to hit the road running as a cyber security professional.”

The college will offer both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It will also offer AI driven research to help develop cybersecurity solutions. The new college will be open for the Fall 2025 semester.