Admission Information

While the competition to be admitted to USF is at an all-time high, the process of applying is simple. Unless otherwise noted, our transfer requirements and deadlines are consistent across all three campuses: Tampa campus, St. Petersburg campus and Sarasota-Manatee campus.

General requirements for all majors

USF has set standard requirements for admission that all applicants to our university must meet, outlined below.

Our How to Apply page will guide you through the process of applying to USF as a transfer student.

Terminology

• Lower-Level (LL) Transfer = A lower-level transfer student is defined as someone who has completed 12-29 transferable hours as determined by the USF Office of Admissions.
  • Must have completed at least 12 hours of post-secondary work after high school graduation. If your college hours were completed during high school, you should apply as a first-time-in-college (FTIC) student.
  • If your hours place you in the mid-level category, you’ll need to select the “fewer than 60 hours” option on the USF transfer application. USF admissions staff will place you in mid-level if they determine you meet the criteria.

  Lower-Level (LL) Transfer Applicants

  Applicants are required to have successfully completed a minimum of 67% of all credit hours attempted at currently and previously enrolled institutions. In addition, you must meet the Florida Board of Governors minimums. A 2.50 transfer or postsecondary transferrable GPA (3.60 for nursing) is required.

  • Transfer post-secondary GPA ≥ 2.5
  • High school GPA ≥ 2.5
  • High school units: 4 English, 4 math, 3 natural science, 3 social science, 2 foreign language
  • Test score requirements:
    • SAT
      • Evidence-Based Reading & Writing ≥ 490
      • Mathematics ≥ 480
      • ACT Reading ≥ 19, ACT English ≥ 17, ACT Math ≥ 19

      You will need to submit:

      1. Application to USF
      2. Application fee
      3. Official high school transcripts
      4. Official college transcripts
      5. Official SAT, ACT or CLT scores

      You can find full details on how to apply to USF as a lower-level transfer student on our How to Apply page.

      Mid-Level (ML) Transfer Applicants

      Applicants are required to have successfully completed a minimum of 67% of all credit hours attempted at currently and previously enrolled institutions. In addition, you must meet the Florida Board of Governors minimums. A 2.50 transfer or postsecondary transferrable GPA (3.60 for nursing) is required.

      • Transfer GPA ≥ 2.5
      • 2 years of foreign language in high school and/or 2 semesters at the collegiate level
      • C or better in college-level English composition course
      • C or better in college-level math course

      You will need to submit:

      1. Application to USF
      2. Application fee
      3. Official high school transcripts
      4. Official college transcripts

      You can find full details on how to apply to USF as a mid-level transfer student on our How to Apply page.

      Upper Level (UL) Transfer Applicants

      If you have graduated from high school and obtained 60+ transferrable credits, USF considers you an upper-level transfer student. Applicants are required to have successfully completed a minimum of 67% of all credit hours attempted at currently and previously enrolled institutions.

      Please note:

      • For each credit hour beyond 132 (for students in a 120-hour degree program), students will be charged double the tuition rate.
      • For each credit hour exceeding 110% of the credit hours required for their degree program, students will be charged double the tuition rate.
      • Students who have attempted 180 credit hours are no longer eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate (including federal student loans).

      GPA requirements:

      • C or better in college-level English composition course
      • C or better in college-level math course
      • With an Associate of Arts (AA) from a Florida College System institution
        • Transfer GPA ≥ 2.0
        • Transfer GPA ≥ 2.3

        You will need to submit:

        1. Application to USF
        2. Application fee
        3. Official college transcripts

        You can find full details on how to apply to USF as an upper-level transfer student on our How to Apply page.

        Second Bachelor’s Degree Applicants

        If you have already completed and been awarded a bachelor’s degree, USF considers you a second bachelor’s degree applicant. You are expected to take only those courses necessary to complete a degree within three terms.

        Please note:

        • For each credit hour beyond 132 (for students in a 120-hour degree program), students will be charged double the tuition rate.
        • For each credit hour exceeding 110% of the credit hours required for their degree program, students will be charged double the tuition rate.
        • Students who have attempted 180 credit hours are no longer eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate (including federal student loans).

        GPA requirements:

        • With a USF bachelor’s degree
          • Bachelor’s GPA ≥ 2.0
          • Bachelors GPA ≥ 2.5

          You will need to submit:

          1. Application to USF
          2. Application fee
          3. Official college transcripts

          You can find full details on how to apply to USF as a second bachelor's degree seeking student on our How to Apply page.

          Former USF Student Returning (FSR) Applicants

          If you have previously attempted or completed courses for credit at the University of South Florida, USF considers you a second bachelor’s degree applicant.

          Requirements:

          • USF GPA ≥ 2.0
          • Overall GPA ≥ 2.0
          • In good standing and eligible to return to the last institution attended
          • Minimum GPA for the declared major, prerequisites met, if applicable

          You will need to submit:

          1. Application to USF
          2. Application fee
          3. Official college transcripts
          4. ARC Petition

          You can find full details on how to apply as a returning USF student on our How to Apply page.

          Priority Admission Consideration

          Transfer applicants who have received an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from a Florida public institution immediately prior to transferring receive priority consideration for transfer admissions to USF, provided the transfer application and all required application materials are received by the Office of Admissions by the transfer deadline. Applicants applying for Selective Majors must meet additional requirements for their intended major.

          Note: All high school students, including those earning an A.A. degree through Dual Enrollment, must submit a Freshman (First-Year) application to USF by the Freshman deadline. For more information about applying as a Freshman with a Florida A.A. degree, please click here.

          Additional Requirements for Selective Majors

          Students must meet the minimums based on student type, but also must meet pre-requisites for their intended degree. Therefore, even if you meet the general requirements, your admission to specific academic programs may depend on meeting additional requirements.

          Please look at your intended academic college and major to see if there are any additional requirements needed for admission:

          Additional requirements are also outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog.