Help Your Student Complete the USF Application

As a family, it can get challenging when your student begins applying to college. Here, we’ll outline the process to apply to USF, step-by-step, so you can help guide your student along the way.

Freshman students can apply through all application methods. Transfer and graduate students must apply through the USF application.

Scholarships

Automatic Scholarship Consideration

When freshman applicants submit all components of their application package (application fee, test scores and transcripts) by Jan. 15, we’ll automatically consider them for merit-based admissions scholarships ranging from $8,000 to $16,000 for in-state students and $20,000 to $44,000 for out-of-state students. See if your student is eligible!

FLORIDA RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIPS   NON-FLORIDA RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Let Your Student Grow

Now is a great time to encourage your student to complete the application independently. As students transition to college, they will take on increasingly greater responsibilities. As a family, you can teach them to embrace this new independence.

In some cases, you may not even be able to assist. Once students begin attending college, the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of their educational records and affords them the right to refuse to permit educational institutions from releasing or disclosing any information.

Please take time to review this information, and also check out our tips on how to encourage independence in college-bound students.

SEE PARENT AND FAMILY POLICIES BLOG: Tips for Families on Teaching College-Bound Students How to Be Independent

APPLICATION STEPS

How to Complete the Application

Even though your student has submitted the application, that doesn’t mean it’s complete. There may still be items that require attention. Have your student log into the Admissions Portal to see if there are any additional steps:

Pay the Application Fee

Applicants must pay the nonrefundable, $30 application fee (if your student has not done so already). The fee may be paid online via OASIS by logging in, navigating to the Student tab, selecting Admissions, and then selecting the option Pay My Application Fee(s).

Freshmen: Submit Student Self-Reported Academic Record

Fill out the Student Self-Reported Academic Record via the link found in the Thanks for Applying email.

Submit SAT or ACT Scores

Students must Request official SAT scores directly from The College Board. USF's code is 5828.
Students must Request official ACT scores directly from ACT, Inc. USF's code is 0761. Students may submit either SAT or ACT scores, but they are encouraged to submit both.

Applicant Review

Learn more about college admissions while you wait for a decision.

Once your student has submitted a complete application package, the USF Admissions team will take some time to review the file and render a decision. While you’re waiting, check out our featured articles below for information on when decisions are made, what our application statuses mean, and more.

USF Admissions employees going through applications
Inside Admissions: What Are
Rolling Admissions?

Find out more about the method USF uses to evaluate applicants and when students can expect an admission decision.

Read Article
Male student taking his ACT and SAT for college admissions.
What Does Superscoring Mean in College Admissions?

Learn more about how USF considers the highest submitted section scores across all SAT and ACT test dates.

Read Article
Female student studying as she waits for her college decision letters.
Tips for Waiting for
College Decision Letters

From submitting recent grades to asking for additional recommendations, find out what to do while waiting for a decision

Read Article
Female student receiving mail about her application status.
What Does Each College Application Status Mean?

Get the definition of every USF application status, from Conditional Admit to Referred, and find out what each requires.

Read Article

Tour USF — Online or On Campus

No matter what type of campus community suits your student, we offer the perfect option. Explore all the highlights of USF's Tampa, St. Petersburg or Sarasota-Manatee campuses by scheduling an in-person tour, or get started right away on a virtual tour! It’s the next best thing to being here.

Explore USF

Admitted Student
Next Steps

See the next steps admitted students can complete with our one-stop onboarding portal, including registering for orientation, submitting health documents and accepting scholarships.

FIND NEXT STEPS
Family