Admission Information

Transfer Admission Requirements

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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. 
  • Mid-Level (ML) Transfer = A mid-level transfer student is defined as someone who has 30-59 transferable hours as determined by the USF Office of Admissions. 
    • 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. 
  • Upper-Level (UL) Transfer = An upper-level transfer student is defined as someone who has 60+ transferable hours as determined by the USF Office of Admissions. 
  • Second Bachelor’s Degree = You have already completed and received a Bachelor's Degree.
  • Former USF Student Returning (FSR) = You have previously completed for-credit courses as a degree-seeking student 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 (3.60 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
      • ACT Reading ≥ 19, ACT English ≥ 17, ACT Math ≥ 19
    • CLT
      • Verbal Reasoning + Grammar/Writing ≥ 38
      • Quantitative Reasoning ≥ 16

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
  • Without an Associate of Arts (AA) from a Florida College System institution
    • 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
  • Without a USF bachelor’s degree
    • 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 completed degree-seeking coursework for credit at the University of South Florida, USF considers you a Former Student Returning.

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:

By College
By Major

Additional requirements are also outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog.

There are some important notes you should consider as you submit your application:

  • 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.
  • Dual Enrollment Students: 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. They are not considered transfer students. Only students who have earned 12 or more credits post-high school graduation are considered transfer students.

Foreign Language Entrance Requirement (FLENT)

To graduate from USF, 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.

  • If you've already completed the requirement before attending USF: Submit official transcripts showing the completed foreign language or ASL courses.
  • If you haven't completed the requirement before attending USF: You must take required coursework while at USF to graduate.

How to Meet FLENT Requirements Before Attending:

If you do not plan on taking foreign language coursework at USF, you must demonstrate completion or in-progress work for one of the options below to pass the FLENT requirement:

What if I'm fluent in another language?

To be considered for admission to USF, students are required to have completed two units (years) of instruction in a foreign language. 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 with the course title "Bright Futures Foreign Language Proficiency Waiver." For a list of ways to document proficiency in a second language in order to qualify for a foreign language waiver, refer to the Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook.

If you meet the waiver requirements, we encourage you to work with your guidance counselor to document the waiver on your transcript or via a letter to the Office of Admissions.