Want to go to USF? Before you’re ready to run with the Bulls, here’s everything you need to know about how to get into USF, and the USF admission requirements.
Although the University of South Florida is a relatively young university, it has established itself as one of the world’s top research institutions, climbing national and global college ranking lists year after year. It’s no wonder that USF has claimed the unofficial title of “America’s fastest-rising university.” Known as much for academic excellence as it is for its athletic program and world-renowned sustainability efforts, USF fosters a vibrant and dynamic campus culture.
Time-honored traditions like the Bull Market and Homecoming and 600+ organizations make for an ultra diverse student body and have helped make USF one of seven universities nationwide to have earned the Active Minds Healthy Campus Award for promoting student health and well-being. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that USF is lauded as a Top 100 Best Value Public College!
A quick note on college rankings: we think they’re generally a bad way to think about where you should go to college. We talk about why rankings are bad in greater detail here, but essentially, a lot of college rankings don’t actually tell you whether you and the school would fit well together, or that the school is someplace you’ll thrive. That said, we also understand that many students/families are confused regarding and have questions about aspects of the application process, so we’ve built the post below to hopefully clarify things, so students/families can make informed decisions.
How hard is it to get into USF?
It is moderately difficult to get accepted to USF. The grade point averages of people who get accepted to USF are in the top half of their class.
USF Acceptance Rate
The University of South Florida acceptance rate is 44%, making it moderately competitive. Acceptance rate is generally an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. To get into a school like USF, you will need to perform well in some areas of your college application.
USF Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Transfer Acceptance Rate
USF does not have any Early Action or Early Decision options. During USF’s regular decision cycle, it received 65,567 applications and accepted 28,811 students (44%). USF is a widely popular school to apply to.
*Note that USF does offer a Priority Deadline. Applications received by the Priority Deadline are given the most consideration*
USF’s Transfer Acceptance Rate is moderately high. Of 10,326 transfer applicants, 6,040 were admitted (58%). (If you want a guide to how to transfer colleges, head to that link.)
USF GPA Requirements
The recommended GPA requirements for USF are between 3.75 and 4.0. You will need an strong GPA and will likely be graduating at the top half of your class in order to get into USF. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
USF Unweighted Average GPA: 3.95
| Unweighted GPA Distribution | Percent Admitted |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 62% |
| 3.75-3.99 | 18% |
| 3.50-3.74 | 12% |
| 3.25-3.49 | 7% |
| 3.00-3.24 | 2% |
| 2.5-2.99 | 0% |
| 2.0-2.49 | 0% |
| 1.0-1.99 | 0% |
| Below 1.0 | 0% |
What GPA is required for USF?
Applicants’ GPA when applying to USF should be between 3.75 and 4.0 to be strong candidates. Having less than this will require compensating by increasing your SAT or ACT score.
USF Weighted GPA Requirements
USF considers weighted GPA as one of its admissions factors. The median weighted GPA for USF is 4.2, and its middle 50 percentile ranges from 4.0 to 4.5, indicating that you will likely have to take higher level classes like AP and IB classes in order to be a competitive candidate for USF. USF describes how it calculates weighted GPA. USF’s website states: “For determining admissibility to USF, we will recalculate your high school GPA based on grades earned in high school only in core academic subject areas, as well as specified AP and IB fine and performing arts courses. USF will add the quality points outlined below for approved AP, IB, AICE, honors and dual enrollment courses provided you earn a "C" or better.”
USF SAT Requirements
The recommended SAT requirements for USF are a 1300 to 1340 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need a moderately high SAT score in order to get into USF. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have spectacular extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
USF Average SAT Composite Score: 1309
| SAT Score Distribution | Reading % | Math % |
|---|---|---|
| 700-800 | 12% | 17% |
| 600-699 | 54% | 41% |
| 500-599 | 33% | 40% |
| 400-499 | 1% | 2% |
| 300-399 | 0% | 0% |
| 200-299 | 0% | 0% |
What SAT score is required for USF?
Applicants should score between 1240 and 1390 on their SAT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.
USF ACT Requirements
The recommended ACT requirements for USF are a 27 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need a moderate ACT score in order to get into USF. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by getting above-average scores on the SAT and having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
USF Average ACT: 27
| ACT Score Range | Composite Score % |
|---|---|
| 30-36 | 22% |
| 24-29 | 58% |
| 18-23 | 20% |
| 12-17 | 0% |
| 6-11 | 0% |
| Below 6 | 0% |
What ACT score is required for USF?
Applicants should score between 24 and 29 on their ACT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute SAT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.
What does USF look for in students?
How do you know if you and USF fit together?
You and USF may be a good match if….
You envision yourself thriving on a large campus with a total enrollment of over 50,000 students
You’re drawn to a school with a top-tier athletics program
You’re eager to get involved in student organizations—USF has over 600, including a widely popular Greek life
You’re seeking a university recognized for both value and return on investment
To strengthen your application and further explore how you and USF fit together, you might consider a thorough examination of USF’s website, starting with its mission statement, which states:
[Our goal is] to promote the success of well-educated, highly skilled, and adaptable alums who, as lifelong learners, lead enriched lives, contribute to the democratic process, function as engaged community citizens, and thus thrive in a dynamic global market.
How do you see yourself aligning with this mission and these values? Talk to current and former students about their experiences, and—if you can—pay a visit to Tampa for a campus tour!
USF Application Deadlines
The USF application deadline for regular decision is March 1st. USF also provides an alternative form of application in addition to regular decision: priority decision. The application deadline for USF’s priority decision is 11/1. Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of the USF admissions process.
| Notification Plan |
Application Material |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Decision |
Submit Test Scores |
11/1 |
| Submit Application |
11/1 |
|
| Admissions Decisions Released |
12/12 (rolling) |
|
| Submit Financial Aid Application |
1/1 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Submit Test Scores |
3/15 |
| Submit Application |
3/1 |
|
| Submit Financial Aid Application (if still pending) |
3/15 |
|
| Admissions Decisions Released Starting: |
3/1 (rolling) |
USF Supplemental Essay Prompts
Fortunately, USF does not require any supplemental essay prompts!
Harrison Harvey
Harrison Harvey is a writing coach, playwright, and college essay specialist. He strives to empower students to take ownership of the writing process and develop their voices as storytellers. He is an avid swimmer, voracious reader, crossword enthusiast, and proud uncle to the coolest girls in the world.
Top values: Curiosity | Creativity | Generosity
