USF SAT Requirements, GPA And ACT Score 2024

The University of South Florida, commonly known as USF, is a public research institution with a main campus in Tampa, Florida, and regional in Sarasota and St. Petersburg. The University of South Florida was founded in 1956. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 33,077.

The University of South Florida ranks 97 out of 443 National Universities. With an acceptance rate of 49%, admission to the University of South Florida (USF) is very competitive. The retention rate of USF is 91% which is an indicator of student satisfaction.

USF SAT Requirements for Admission

The admission SAT requirements for USF are 

• GPA requirements
• College entrance tests like SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements like Official high school transcripts, Certification of Finances, Gap Year explanation (Optional), etc.

College Entrance Test for USF

College entrance tests are required for taking admission to USF. You must submit test scores directly from the testing service to be considered for admission. College entrance tests required for USF are the SAT exam and the ACT exam.

SAT Exam 

SAT or Scholastic Assessment Test is a standardized test administered by the College Board and is required to be taken by students seeking admission to USF. The SAT exam is a 3-hour long test without an Essay and 3 hours and 50 minutes long with an essay. SAT is required for admission to undergraduate programs at most US colleges.

Apart from this, SAT scholarship money is offered to students based on their SAT results. There are no minimum or maximum age criteria, and students can take the SAT exam as often as they want. SAT is administered in March, May, August, October, and December five times a year.

SAT Scores for USF Requirements

The maximum score for the SAT is 1600. For admission to USF, a score of 1120 is considered a below-average score, while a score of 1320 and above will fit you to the above-average position. Therefore, if your SAT score is below 1220, it is strongly recommended to retake the SAT exam as you may have a good chance of improving your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting selected for admission to USF.

At USF, your highest section scores across all SAT and ACT that you submit, including the SAT or ACT Writing, are considered for Final admission.

ACT exam 

ACT or American College Testing is a standardized test administered by ACT, a non-profit organization of the same name. The four academic skill areas included in the ACT are English, math, reading, and scientific reasoning. Only seven times a year, between September and July, is the ACT given. The ACT exam takes two hours and 55 minutes. Another 30 minutes is included if you add the optional writing section.

USF ACT Minimum Score Requirements

For admission to USF, a score of 25 is considered a below-average score. If you apply with a 25 or below, you’ll need to struggle a lot to get in untill you have an outstanding application. Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below 27, it is strongly recommended to retake the ACT exam. You have a good chance of improving your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting into the USF. According to ACT Score Sending Policy, you can take multiple tests and send your highest score. This can give you a huge advantage in how you send scores.

USF GPA Requirements 

The average GPA required in applying for admission at USF on the main campus is 3.97 or above. You will require a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate if your GPA is at or below the average of 3.97. This will help you stand amongst the competitors and other applicants who have higher GPAs. If your GPA is above 3.97, you are in a good position among other candidates.

Other Application Requirements for USF

There is certain information that is needed to be submitted in the online application to the USF. It is required to upload the transcript to the online USF application portal. This transcript must include academic transcripts and exam results of all secondary work. Ask your school to send transcripts to USF electronically. If this option is not available, transcripts can also be mailed to the admission University of South Florida.

English Proficiency Test Score for International Students at USF

 An English test score is not required for US students. It is required from international students who are seeking admission to the USF. The different English proficiency tests considered by the USF are TOEFL-IBT, IELTS, Duolingo, and PTE, and the minimums marks to qualify for the test are –

• TOEFL-IBT: 69
• IELTS: 6.5
• Duolingo: 105
• PTE: 53

How to Apply to USF

You can apply to USF via these easy steps – 

1. Complete the online USF application
2. Pay the required application fee
3. Submit Your Student Self-Reported Academic Record, i.e., the transcript of your academic record
4. Submit Your SAT or ACT Scores

Application Dates at USF

The application dates for USF are

1. The deadline for Spring 2022 is October 1, 2023
2. The deadline for Summer 2022 is March 1, 2023
3. The deadline for Fall 2022 is March 1, 2023

Fees of Application for USF

• The application fee for applying to USF is $30.
• The application fee for the SAT exam is $55.
• The application fee for the ACT exam is $52 to $252. 

Fee Waiver and Scholarships at USF

Via ACT Fee Waiver Program, you can apply for a fee waiver for the ACT exam. You can also apply for a fee waiver for the SAT exam. Applications for the fee waiver are approved for the eligible students. You can check the complete eligibility on their website. For scholarships at USF, students are eligible for merit-based scholarships from the USF if they have a 3.50+ GPA and 1210+ on SAT. The other requirements application process is mentioned on their official website.

Final Words

The University of South Florida, or USF, is moderately selective. If you have a strong academic performance, your admission to the University of South Florida is guaranteed. You have to score above 1320 on SAT or 29 on the ACT to ensure your admission, as this will put you in the top 49% of candidates. Your GPA shouldn’t be too far off the average of 3.97. GPAs above 3.97 are considered good GPAs when applying to USF. If you have a low GPA, it can be managed by submitting high scores on the SAT or ACT exam to the application.

Application Dates at USF

The application dates for USF are

1. The deadline for Spring 2023 is October 1, 2024
2. The deadline for Summer 2024 is March 1, 2025
3. The deadline for Fall 2024 is March 1, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the FLENT requirements in USF?

Ans: FLENT stands for Foreign Language Entrance. For admission, students must have completed two academic units of the same foreign language in high school, two semesters of the same foreign language in college, or two American Sign Language (ASL) semesters.

If you have already fulfilled this requirement, submit official transcripts showing the completed foreign language or ASL courses. Students who have not met FLENT at admission are still admissible but must meet FLENT before graduating from USF.

2. Do I need to give both SAT and ACT exams for admission to USF?

Ans: You can give both exams, but only a score of only one exam is enough for applying for USF. If you have given both exams, you should submit the score of the exam in which you have performed well. At USF, your highest scores across all SAT and ACT to date are considered for Final admission decisions. 

3. What can be done if a student has a low GPA?

Ans: If a student has a low GPA, it can be balanced by securing 1400 or more in the SAT exam or by securing a score of 29 or more.  

4. What is the minimum GPA required by the USF?

Ans: The minimum GPA required by USF is 2.0. If a student has a GPA of 2.0, it can be difficult to get into the USF. 

5. What are the courses offered at The University of South Florida?

Ans: The University of South Florida offers more than 180 majors in various fields of education such as accounting, business, advertising, anthropology, sciences, architecture, engineering, arts, computer science, environment, economics, social sciences, mathematics, communication, law, nursing, finance, marketing, and management. 

6. What are the other exams which are considered for taking admission in business programs and MS programs?

Ans: GMAT is mandatory for admission to Business programs, and a GRE score is required for some MS programs.

7. What are the requirements for an international student to be admitted to The University of South Florida?

Ans: International students need to provide the following documents at the time of application at The University of South Florida 

• Academic transcripts (original and English-translated)
• Scores of standardized exams like SAT or ACT exam
• Test score to prove English proficiency
• Scanned copy of the biographical page of a valid passport