Graduate Admissions Criteria

 

 

Who should use the Graduate Application?

U.S. Citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens or Foreign applicants who are first time, or transfer graduate applicants to USF and who have earned a bachelor's degree (or US Equivalency) or will have earned a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment if accepted.

Where should I send my recommendation letters, resumes, and statement of purpose?

All recommendation letters, resumes and statement of purpose should be sent to:

University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Graduate Admissions
8350 N. Tamiami Trl., SMC C107
Sarasota, FL 34243

Where should I send my transcripts and test scores?

Please refer to the Application Checklist (To-Do-List) web page.

What are the Tuition Costs?

Please visit University Controllers Office to view the most current tuition cost information: Cash Accounting

What are USF's Criteria and Policies?

Statement of Principles

In graduate admission decisions, multiple sources of information should be used to ensure fairness, promote diversity and balance the limitations of any single measure of knowledge, skills, or abilities. The sources may include: undergraduate grade point average, letters of recommendation, personal statements, samples of academic work, portfolios, auditions, professional experience related to proposed graduate study, as well as nationally known, standardized test scores. It is the responsibility of each graduate program to select admissions criteria that best predict success in their specific field and to determine the weight given to each measure.

None of the sources of information, particularly standardized test scores, should be used in isolation nor should such scores be used in combination or separately to establish minimum scores. Program specific guidelines for the use of standardized test scores should be developed based on the experience of a given department with its pool of applicants.

Admission Requirements

Each applicant to a graduate program at the University of South Florida is required to meet the following minimum requirements:

    An applicant must have one of the following:

    1. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
      (a) B average or better in all work attempted while registered as an undergraduate student working for a degree, or
      (b) B or better average in all work attempted while registered as an upper division undergraduate student working for a baccalaureate degree.
    2. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a previous graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
    3. The equivalent bachelor's and/or graduate degrees from a foreign institution.

    AND
    Submission of a GRE/GMAT score is required unless specifically waived by the University.

    AND
    All specific and additional requirements of the graduate program to which admission is sought (including requirements to submit standardized test scores) consistent with the above Statement of Principles.

The College/School Dean must approve any exceptions to these requirements.

What are the Application Procedures?

Applications are accepted up to one year in advance of the desired term of entry and therefore, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Applicants are responsible for submitting applications before the appropriate program or university application deadlines. Applications are considered on time if they are received by the Office of Graduate Admissions or the desired program (if that program is a Direct Receipt program) on or before the appropriate deadline. Program deadlines are listed on the Graduate Admissions web site.

Priority is given to those applications that are received before the application deadline and are complete when submitted. Complete applications received after the deadline date will be processed for the next available semester. The Office of Graduate Admissions considers domestic applications complete if they include:

1. the appropriate application fee
2. one official transcript of at least 6 semesters of completed undergraduate work
3. GRE/GMAT test scores, as applicable
4. All required supporting documentation

Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned a degree in the U.S. must submit a TOEFL score (refer to Test Scores).

What are some strategies when applying at USF?

  • Contact the desired program early in the admissions process. Prospective students should ascertain both that they are eligible for admission and that the program fits their academic needs.
  • Secure test scores, transcripts, and any other required items at least 60 days in advance of the appropriate application deadlines. 
  • Make copies of all documents submitted for your records. To safeguard against possible mishaps, applicants should know exactly what they have submitted and have copies of their own for verification.
  • Many programs require additional application materials such as resumes, writing samples, or letters of recommendation. 

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    NOTE: Applicants who want to apply to more than one graduate program must submit another application, application fee, and any required departmental documents.