University of South Florida

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.