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University of South Florida Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

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  • Estd. 1956
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University of South Florida Admissions
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International applicants can apply for University of South Florida admission via the university application portal for UG and PG or CommonApp for UG programs. Below are the general University of South Florida application deadlines:

UG:

Early Action application deadline: Nov 1, 2025

Regular Decision application deadline: Dec 15, 2025

Rolling Admission application deadline: Mar 1, 2026 (tentative)

PG:

Spring: Oct 15, 2025

Summer: Feb 15, 2026 (tentative)

Fall: Jun 1, 2026 (tentative)   

University of South Florida Admissions
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University of South Florida Admission Overview 2026

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   In what intakes does University of South Florida accept students?
A: 

The University of South Florida mainly accepts students in three main intakes which includes: Spring (January), Summer (May) and Fall (August/September) for all undergraduate and postgraduate programs including MBA. Fall is considered as the primary intake conducted by the university with the largest number of programs available for all levels. The next big intake is Spring followed by Summer. Applicants must be well prepared before starting the application process so as to carefully follow the steps throughout and avoid complications.

Q:   How much time does it require for University of South Florida to process applications?
A: 

Univ of South Florida might take few weeks or months to go through entire application process. Typically, university takes 4-6 weeks to process application but this heavily depends on the completion of the applications submitted. Hence, it is important for applicants to make sure to submit all admission requirements.

University of South Florida Courses: Eligibility and Fees 2026

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University of South Florida Admissions Process 2026

University of South Florida MS Admissions 2026

53 courses 12 months - 2 years
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13.3L - 35L

iconEligibility Criteria

  • Accepting Exams: IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT
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Commonly asked questions
On MS Admissions
Q:   What is the minimum GRE score required for the University of South Florida?
A: 

The University of South Florida expects a minimum GRE score of 153 (verbal) from international students. Students must prefer to submit it to create a positive impact on their resumes. In addition, students must fulfill the basic eligibility by having a bachelor's degree from a recognised institute and submit the requirements including GPA scores, resume/ CV, unofficial transcripts from all previously attended institutions, English language proficiency scores, and SOP for all master programs.

Q:   Which is better University of Buffalo or the University of South Florida?
A: 

If we consider the below comparison table, the University of Buffalo is better than the University of South Florida based on the ranking categories like national rankings, and top public school. As per the unofficial source, the University of South Florida ranked #91 among national universities whereas the University of Buffalo ranked #76. However, students must consider other factors including tuition cost, opportunities, academic structure, and environment rather than just rankings. Students can check the table below for the comparison between the two:

US News Rankings 2025

University of South Florida

University of Buffalo

National Universities

#91

#76

Top Public Schools

#45

#36

Best Value Schools

#61

#128

University of South Florida Application Process 2026

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University of South Florida Enrollment Statistics 2026

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University of South Florida
Students Ratings & Reviews

4/5
Verified Icon18 Verified ReviewsInfo Icon
Student Views (Based on Reviews)
  • 30% students never faced discrimination in this university
Vibe of Campus
Friendly
Academically oriented
Easy going
Liberal
Internships3.4
Part time work3.4
Post study jobs4.1
Quality of faculty4.4
Student Life4.5
Value for money4.1
Public transportation4.7
Safety4.4
Indian Food4.1
Permanent Immigration3.1
A
AnonymousVerified Icon
Psychology, M.A. - Batch of 2026
3.6
Intense research work here.
Tips: I did not expect my degree to be as intense as it is here. There will be a lot of research work, experiments, statistics and academic writing. In a way, a lot more than one would expect. Indian food is good in some places but disappointing in some and you'll have to rely on cooking for yourself. Office hours have been helpful.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2025
Prepping time for classes33 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 103725
Reviewed on 24 Nov 2025Read more
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A
AnonymousVerified Icon
Master of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2025
4.4
A supportive diverse learning experience at USF.
Tips: There aren't many cultural transitions. I think there are enough Indian students to feel comfortable and confident enough in our culture. I did not avail any scholarships but our school does offer some really good ones for a Bachelor's degree and I personally know some who were awarded scholarships. I'm pretty satisfied with the university but not the country.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1550
Prepping time for classes16 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 71325
Reviewed on 21 Nov 2025Read more
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A
Anil Babu Samineni Verified Icon
Master of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2025
4.7
Affordable fee as compared to other colleges in the US.
Tips: Students should know the course structure and campus culture. It took time to adapt to an independent lifestyle and a new academic system. There will be no scholarships for master's students and for undergraduate students, they will be. The course work is heavy, you need to manage it.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 825
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 70400
Reviewed on 6 Nov 2025Read more
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H
hemanth madhavareddy Verified Icon
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering - Batch of 2025
4.5
Great electrical engineering school but immigration is the current hurdle.
Tips: The culture is different but meeting people in class and outside will help get to know more. The college is not that expensive compared to other similar tier university. The job opportunities are good for electrical engineering but the immigration changes are the biggest hold up. I have spoken to people who graduated before me and they got jobs. But this years changes are making it hard to get into a job.
Likes (Safety): I have been to places in Florida, the state is a safe one. Tampa is better with cops all over the university area. I go out all the time and never felt unsafe and never got any stuff stolen. The people in Tampa are friendly and never had any problem, the traffic's not bad at all.
Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): I rated it 3 because of the recent changes made to immigration by the current administration. The uncertainty is troubling as I have spent a lot on my master's degree with no return. The wait period for a Green card is around 140 years and a lot of negative changes to the H1b programme as well are not that good.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1400
Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 100000
Reviewed on 1 Nov 2025Read more
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S
Sai Teja Venepalle Verified Icon
Master of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2024
3.8
Warm community and narrow paths.
Tips: Good weather, similar to Visakhapatnam. There are many Indian communities, which make me feel like I'm outside Hyderabad. There are also many Indian restaurants and a few Indian temples. There are no scholarships. The course needs to provide internal specialisations.
Likes (Public transportation): In Tampa, the public transportation system is quite good compared to other cities. You can track the buses, allowing you to be on time instead of waiting for a long time. USF university students can travel for free, and we can go anywhere within the public transport system. Besides public transport, there are also good Uber services available 24/7.
Dislikes (Internships): You can seek guidance from seniors. Campus drives offer industry perspectives, and internships are also available on LinkedIn and other third-party job sites, which post numerous opportunities daily from various companies and fields.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 700
Prepping time for classes40 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 60000
Reviewed on 16 Jul 2025Read more
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R
Rohit Joshi Verified Icon
Sociology, M.A. - Batch of 2025
3.9
The university is great and lots of exposure and a great experience.
Tips: Being here has made me grow a lot as the campus is very accommodating and lively and you can get a very multifaceted experience. The resources and facilities for my programme are ideal and you are encouraged to think out of the box. Take your time to settle here and explore freely.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 3675
Prepping time for classes31 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 65150
Reviewed on 28 Aug 2024Read more
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View All 20 ReviewsRight Arrow Icon

University of South Florida Admissions 2026 FAQs

Q:   What GPA do you need to get into the University of South Florida?
A: 

The University of South Florida GPA requirements vary as per the course levels. The details for the same are given below:

  • International Freshman: As per the Fall student profile 2022, the average GPA of international applicants was 4.00 – 4.50. For the Summer student profile 2022, the average GPA was 3.62 – 4.12
  • Graduate: For admission to graduate courses of USF, the applicants must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA of in either all completed undergraduate coursework / all completed graduate coursework

Also Read: Requirements to Study in USA for International Students 

Q:   Is it difficult to get into USF?
A: 

According to U.S. News & World Report, the University of South Florida acceptance rate is 44%. Looking at the acceptance rate, it can be said that USF is moderately selective at the time of admissions. In order to improve the chances of getting admission to USF, the applicants are required to have a strong academic background and meet all the admission and application requirements. The general University of South Florida admissions requirements are such that for admission to bachelor’s degree, the applicants are required to a high school graduate or high school senior or equivalent. In the case of graduate programs, the applicants are required to have a bachelor’s and / or graduate degrees from a foreign institute.

Q:   Does USF require GRE?
A: 

The University of South Florida may ask for GRE for some of the courses. The applicants are required to submit GRE test scores earned within 5 years of the desired term of entry. The official GRE scores should be submitted to USF directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS), but, the applicants can submit unofficial copies of test scores to expedite the application processing. Also, note that any admission granted using unofficial scores shall not be finalized until the official scores from ETS have not been submitted to USF.

Q:   Does the University of South Florida give scholarships to international students?
A: 

Yes, USF offers scholarships to international students each year. International scholarships for 2025-26 details are given below:

Freshman Scholarships: For these scholarships, USF will automatically consider the applicants when they submit and complete the application for Summer or Fall 2026 by Jan 15, 2026 (tentative). The eligibility of this scholarship is given below:

  • Academic records and residency status
  • No additional applications are required
  • Merit-based awards are limited, hence, students must apply by Jan 15 deadline

Students are notified about their award via postal mail and can track their award package via the OASIS student portal after USF releases the initial admission decisions.

Also Read: Scholarships to Study in USA

Q:   Does USF require IELTS?
A: 

Yes, international students seeking admission to the University of South Florida need IELTS or any other English language proficiency scores. The minimum scores required in these ELP tests are given below:

Tests

UG ELP Scores

Graduate ELP Scores

TOEFL

79

79

Duolingo

110

110

SAT

24 in Reading, 25 in Writing and Language

-

ACT

17 in English, 19 in Reading

-

IELTS

-

6.5

PTE

-

53

Q:   What do I need for MS in Business Analytics and Information Systems at USF?
A: 

The University of South Florida MS BAIS admissions requirements are:

  • A 4-year’s bachelor’s degree or equivalent
  • GMAT / GRE scores
  • Relevant work experience in Information Technology, Information Services, Business Analytics or related sectors
  • 2 letters of recommendation
  • A completed information form that USF sends at the time of receiving of application
Q:   How much is the application fee for USF for international students?
A: 

The University of South Florida application fee for indian students is USD 30. Along with the fee the students are required to submit documents such as transcripts, standardized test scores and English test scores.

Note: 1 USD = INR 83.12

Q:   What do I need to apply to the University of South Florida?
A: 

The University of South Florida applicants can apply via USF admission portal for graduate courses. In the case of undergraduate students, the applicants can apply via Common App / USF Admission Portal. In case of graduate courses, apply through the designated USF admission portal. Given below are the steps to apply to USF:

Step 1: First of all, submit the USF application with proper documents

Step 2: Then, pay USF application fee

Step 3: Next, submit the official transcripts / mark sheets / grade reports / Diplomas or certificates, nationalized test scores, etc.

Step 4: Submit the official SAT / ACT scores for UG admission and GRE / GMAT for graduate admissions

Step 5: Also, submit English language proficiency scores. For undergraduate admission, TOEFL / Duolingo scores are accepted, whereas, for graduate admissions, IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo / PTE scores are accepted

Also Read: College / University Application Process for USA

Q:   How long does it take to hear the application decision for admission to USF?
A: 

The University approximately takes 6-8 weeks to make a decision from the file completion date. The admission officials at University of South Florida will post on your OASIS account to notify that a decision has been made. This notification is followed by a letter in the physical mail detailing what the student's decision is. 

Q:   How can I get into USF MBA?
A: 

To be able to apply USF, international students should meet certain admission requirements. The University of South Florida admissions requirements for an MBA course are given below:

Also Read: MBA in USA

Q:   Is USF a good school for MBA?
A: 

The University of South Florida’s MBA programme has been placed among the top 75 on the 2023-24 Best Business Schools national rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. MBA programme of USF has been placed at #73. This is the first time the programme has landed among the top 100 schools in the country. When it comes to the public universities, USF MBA programs ranks at No. 39 in the nation and No. 2 in the state. Furthermore, MBA programme of USF helps students develop analytical skills and creative abilities and promoted collaboration with experienced and diverse classmates.

Check more about University of South Florida Rankings from here

Q:   Does USF require GMAT for MBA?
A: 

Yes, USF requires GMAT for an MBA program. For the most recent classes, the average GMAT has been around 572 and the GRE average is around 308. Apart from GMAT scores, the applicants are required to have other application materials in order to submit the application such as academic transcripts, SOP, professional resume, recommendation letters, etc.

Also Read: A Complete Guide on MBA in USA for Indian Students 

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University of South Florida

Student Forum

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Write here...

Answered 9 months ago

As per the below comparison, we can conclude that University at Buffalo is better than the University of South Florida based on the national rankings, and small class size experience. However, the acceptance rate at University at South Florida is low which shows difficult admission policy of the uni

...Read more

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Nishtha Gupta

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 9 months ago

According to Shiksha, the overall rating of USF is 4.1. Some of the component ratings of this university are 4.3 for student life, 4.1 for post-study jobs, 4.3 for value for money, 4.2 for quality of faculty, etc. Some of the reviews posted by students on Shiksha, here are some of the feedbacks for

...Read more

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Rupali Singh

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 9 months ago

USF QS rankings for Master's in Business Analytics course is 101+. But, in 2024, the university ranked at a better position with the #81-90 rank and in the previous year, it was placed at the #71-80 position. Although there has been a decline in the university's ranking for Master's in Business Anal

...Read more

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Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 9 months ago

The University of South Florida is recognised for offering the highest placement rate in the USA. University of South Florida placement rate stands at 90%, this means for every 100 students, 90 students secured employment. USF placement rate are one of the major attractions for international studen

...Read more

M

Manashjyoti Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 9 months ago

University of South Florida is one of most reputed colleges in USA for higher education. The University of South Florida placement rate is 90%, out of 100 students, 90 students secured employment. USF placement rate attracts students from all over the world. According to the student reviews on Shik

...Read more

M

Manashjyoti Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

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Shreya Basu

Study Abroad Expert

After pursuing BTech in Information Technology from VIT Vellore in 2024, Shreya followed her passion to write and give content writing a shot. She is now a content writer at Shiksha.com, Creating content about universities abroad. Her interests lie a...Read Full Bio

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University of South Florida
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University CityTampa, Florida, USA
Size of cityMedium
Population of City3,77,165

University of South Florida
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Address

4202 E. Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33620

Tampa ( Florida)

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