Admission Information
Transfer Admission Requirements
Admission to USF is more competitive than ever, but the process of applying is not difficult. Unless otherwise noted, our transfer requirements and deadlines are consistent across all three campuses: Tampa campus, St. Petersburg campus and Sarasota-Manatee campus.
Terminology
- Lower-Level (LL) Transfer = 12-29 hours of transferable credit including in-progress
- Must have some completed post-secondary work
- Mid-Level (ML) Transfer = 30-59 hours of transferable credit including in-progress
- Upper-Level (UL) Transfer = 60+ hours of transferable credit including in-progress
- Second Bachelor’s Degree = you have already completed and been awarded a Bachelor's Degree
- Former USF Student Returning (FSR) = you have previously attempted or completed for-credit courses at the University of South Florida
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 (3.20 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
- ACT Reading ≥ 19, ACT English ≥ 17, ACT Math ≥ 19
- SAT
You will need to submit:
- Application to USF
- Application fee
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts
- 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 (3.20 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:
- Application to USF
- Application fee
- Official high school transcripts
- 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. It is important to note that students will be charged double the tuition rate for each credit hour beyond 132 (for students in a 120-hour degree program) or 110 percent in excess of the hours required. Students who have attempted 180 credit hours are no longer eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate (including federal student loans).
Applicants are required to have successfully completed a minimum of 67% of all credit hours attempted at currently and previously enrolled institutions. A minimum transferrable GPA of 2.30 is required (except applicants with an AA degree from a Florida College System institution and a minimum transferrable GPA of 2.00).
- With an Associate of Arts (AA) from a Florida College System institution
- Transfer GPA ≥ 2.0
- Without an Associate of Arts (AA) from a Florida College System institution
- Transfer GPA ≥ 2.3
You will need to submit:
- Application to USF
- Application fee
- 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
Applicants are required to have successfully completed a minimum of 67% of all credit hours attempted at currently and previously enrolled institutions.
- With a USF bachelor’s degree
- Bachelor’s GPA ≥ 2.0
- Without a USF bachelor’s degree
- Bachelors GPA ≥ 2.5
It is important to note that second bachelor’s degree applicants are expected to take only those courses necessary to complete a degree within three terms. Students will be charged double the tuition rate for each credit hour beyond 132 (for students in a 120-hour degree program) or 110 percent in excess of the hours required. In addition, students who have attempted 180 credit hours are no longer eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate (including federal student loans).
You will need to submit:
- Application to USF
- Application fee
- 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
- 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:
- Application to USF
- Application fee
- Official college transcripts
- ARC Petition
You can find full details on how to apply as a returning USF student on our How to Apply page.
Additional Requirements for Selective Majors
Students must meet the minimums based on student type, but also must meet pre-requisites for their intended degree. Please look at your intended academic college and major to see if there are any additional requirements needed for admission:
Nursing programs are limited access. Please visit the College of Nursing website for more information.
There are some important notes you should consider as you submit your application:
- Application Deadlines: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but follow this general rule to decide
when you should apply:
- If you are currently enrolled at another college or university: apply no more than 90 days before your final grades will be posted for the current semester. (e.g., if your final semester grades will be posted on June 1, apply after March 1 for transfer admission to USF.)
- If you are not currently enrolled at another college or university: apply as soon as you are ready with all required documents needed for an admissions decision.
- No Essay Requirement: No essay or personal statement is requested to be evaluated for admission to USF. Any submission of an essay or personal statement will not be opened or reviewed.
- Dual Enrollment Students: All high school students, including those earning an AA degree through Dual Enrollment, must submit a freshman (first-year) application to USF by the freshman deadline. Only students who have earned 12 or more credits post-high school graduation are considered transfer students.
- Foreign Language Entrance Requirements (FLENT): Students must have two academic units of the same foreign language in high school
or two semesters of the same foreign language or American Sign Language (ASL) in college
to graduate from USF.
- If you've already completed the requirement before attending USF: submit official transcripts showing the foreign language or ASL courses completed.
- If you haven't completed the requirement before attending USF: you must take required coursework while at USF to graduate.
Unsure if you meet the FLENT requirements?
You must display completion/in-progress work of one of the below options to pass the FLENT requirement if you do not plan on taking foreign language coursework at 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.
What if I'm fluent in another language?
USF requires that students have completed two units (two years) of instruction in a foreign language to be considered for admission. However, you may document proficiency in a second language to meet this requirement.
In Florida, the course number that is designated to indicate a foreign language waiver is 0791920 and has a course title of "Bright Futures Foreign Language Proficiency Waiver." For a listing of ways to document proficiency in a second language for a foreign language waiver, see the Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook. In the event you meet waiver requirements, you are encouraged to work with your guidance counselor to document the waiver on your transcript or via letter to the Office of Admissions.