University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a public research university in Tampa and one of the fastest-rising members of the Association of American Universities, enrolling more than 39,000 undergraduates. Admission has tightened as the university's profile has climbed: about 41% of roughly 72,000 applicants are admitted, and enrolled first-years post middle-50% SAT scores of 1160–1340 with an average high school GPA near 4.09. Business and marketing and the health professions are the two largest fields, each accounting for nearly 18% of bachelor's degrees, and USF pairs a 91% first-year retention rate with one of the lowest in-state tuition prices in the country.
See how USF compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
USF admissions statistics
Acceptance rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly admissions
USF does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized tests
USF requires standardized test scores for all applicants.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
USF supplemental essays
USF requires no supplemental essay for the 2026-2027 cycle — your Common App personal statement is the only essay they read.
Writing your USF application essay?
Paste your draft and get specific, line-by-line feedback on what is and isn't landing — scored against the rubrics admissions readers use.
Class rank
Where USF's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 71.6% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. USF does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions factors
How USF weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from USF's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Financial aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Frequently asked questions about USF admissions
USF is moderately selective and has grown harder to get into as its national ranking has risen. It admitted about 40.7% of roughly 72,000 applicants in the most recent cycle, and admitted first-years carried an average high school GPA near 4.09 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1160–1340. Strong grades in a rigorous course load matter most, since GPA, the rigor of your record, and test scores are all weighed as very important factors.
Out-of-state applicants actually face longer odds than Florida residents at USF. In the most recent cycle the university admitted about 76% of in-state applicants but only 36% of out-of-state applicants, and out-of-state students make up just 13% of the enrolled first-year class. Where you live carries no direct weight in the review itself, so competitive grades and test scores are the path in.
Yes, a 1300 is a strong score for USF. It sits comfortably in the upper half of enrolled first-years, near the 75th-percentile mark of 1340. The middle 50% scored 1160–1340 on the SAT and 25–29 on the ACT, so a 1300 puts you at or above a typical admitted student. USF requires SAT or ACT scores, which are weighed as a very important factor.
Admitted first-years average about a 4.09 high school GPA, and nearly 62% of enrolled students who reported a rank were in the top quarter of their class. There is no hard cutoff, but academic GPA and the rigor of your course load are both very important factors, so strong grades in challenging classes are the most reliable way to stand out.
Yes. Unlike many public universities, USF requires every first-year applicant to submit SAT or ACT scores, so it is not test-optional. Scores are weighed as a very important factor alongside GPA and course rigor. Among enrolled first-years, the middle 50% scored 1160–1340 on the SAT and 25–29 on the ACT.
No. USF does not require or review an application essay or personal statement for first-year admission, and the essay is listed as a not-considered factor in its review. Admission turns instead on your GPA, the rigor of your course load, and your SAT or ACT scores, so focus your energy on the academic record those factors reward.
Annual tuition and required fees run about $6,410 for Florida residents and $18,416 for out-of-state students, among the lowest in-state prices of any major public research university. About 44% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average aid package near $16,245, and USF meets roughly 70% of demonstrated need on average.
Business and marketing and the health professions are the two largest fields, each accounting for nearly 18% of bachelor's degrees. The biological and life sciences follow at about 12%, with the social sciences, psychology, computing, and engineering rounding out the most popular programs at this research-intensive university.
Popular majors
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student-faculty ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by gender
Student diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Source: University of South Florida Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-22. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with USF. Banner photo by Trevorrrrvalent, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “University of South Florida admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/university-of-south-florida (retrieved 2026-06-22).