Undergraduate
International Freshman Academic Requirements
While the competition to be admitted to USF is at an all-time high, the process of applying is simple. We consider each applicant individually, taking into account grades, rigor of curriculum and standardized test scores.
YOU SHOULD APPLY AS A FRESHMAN IF YOU ARE A:
- High school senior.
- High school student or graduate who has earned dual enrollment credit or an A.A. degree but has not completed more than 11 semester hours of college coursework after high school graduation.
- High school graduate who has never enrolled in college.
If you have completed 12 or more credits of college coursework since high school graduation, you will be considered for transfer admission.
Here’s the profile of our most recently admitted class:
| Average GPA | Average SAT Score | Average ACT Score |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.07-4.55 | 1250-1400 | 27-31 | 81-91 |
If you think you have what it takes, read on to discover the requirements for admission consideration.
Academic Credentials Requirements
If you completed secondary education in any country outside the U.S., USF requires you to submit the appropriate documents to confirm that you've completed that country's equivalent of graduation from high school in the U.S. Generally, completion of secondary education will consist of 12-13 years of study and the awarding of a diploma or graduation certificate. Please include academic transcripts and exam results for all secondary work.
SAT/ACT/CLT Requirements
USF requires freshman applicants to submit official results for at least one college entrance exam (SAT, ACT or CLT). Currently, USF does not require or consider the optional essay section of the SAT or ACT during the admission or scholarship review processes. Similarly, SAT subject tests are not considered for admission or placement.
USF's code for SAT is 5828 and for ACT is 0761. Please select University of South Florida from the dropdown on CLT website.
In Fall 2024, mid-range test scores for admitted freshmen were:
- SAT: 1250-1400
- ACT: 27-31
- CLT: 81-91
Language Requirements
Must meet SAT or ACT minimums:
- SAT: Minimum total score of 1100 (Writing=25, Critical Reading=24, Mathematics=24)
- ACT: Minimum total score of 22 (English=17, Reading=19, Mathematics=19)
Superscoring
USF considers your highest submitted section scores across all SAT, ACT or CLT test dates. We make final admission decisions using only your highest cumulative scores. Each time you submit test scores to USF, we will update your record with any new high scores. We strongly encourage you to submit your scores each time you take the SAT, ACT or CLT. Sending your scores each time you take a test allows us to consider you for all available enrollment-related opportunities — a huge benefit to you.
Testing Recommendations
Since the SAT, ACT and CLT measure college readiness through different means and formats, we strongly encourage you to take each exam once during spring of your junior year in high school to gain experience. You are likely to prefer — and even perform better — on one test over the others, so you can focus on preparing for that test during the fall of your senior year. You should not take any test more than three times because significant performance improvements are unlikely at that point. Exceptions are rare.
Foreign Language Entrance Requirements (FLENT)
To be considered for admission to USF, students are required to have completed two units (years) of instruction in a foreign language. If you have already fulfilled this requirement, submit official transcripts showing the completed foreign language or ASL courses. Refer to the following bullets, which describe the methods to meet the requirement, as well as possible exemptions. Students who have not met FLENT at the point of admission are still admissible, but must meet FLENT before they can graduate from USF.
- Two academic units (years) of the same foreign language or American sign language in high school (9th-12th grades), or one academic unit (year) at level 2.
- Two passing semesters of the same foreign language (e.g., SPN 1120 and SPN 1121) or sign language in college, earning no less than eight credit hours.
- Successfully passing the USF Language Placement Test by placing into the third course or higher.
- Passing College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Foreign Language subject test level 2.
- One year of an Advanced Placement (AP) foreign language course in high school.
- Advanced Placement (AP) Credit for two semesters (AP score = 4).
- Passing the Brigham Young University (BYU) Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services (FLATS) test.
No Essay Requirement
We do not request an essay or personal statement to be evaluated for admission to USF. Any essay or personal statement that you submit will not be opened or reviewed.