USF offers student financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and employment opportunities.
Grants and scholarships can be used to pay for tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. They are awarded to students who demonstrate eligibility by submitting the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA), who are academically outstanding, compete in intercollegiate athletics, and/or are ready to commit their time and skills after graduation to the armed forces or to a particular employer.
Financial Aid Sources
- the University
- federal and state governments
- social, fraternal, professional, and community organizations
- employers, both present and prospective
- friends and graduates of the University
Applying For Assistance
To apply for aid you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1. The FAFSA may be obtained from your high school, current financial aid office, or may be submitted online after January 1 directly from the FAFSA website at: www.fafsa.ed.gov
Note: Paper FAFSA applications must be mailed to the federal processor - not the USF Office of Financial Aid - on or before February 1. We recommend that you apply on-line.
** New
applicants for admission who seek Financial Aid and who plan to file the FAFSA
must be sure that the student's social security number has been provided to the
Office of Admission to insure proper matching of the FAFSA application and USF student
record.**
Our title IV Code is 001325. This code must be on the FAFSA to assure that we receive your information in a timely way from the processor. Do not wait for an admission decision before submitting your FAFSA.
Grant, Scholarship, and Loan Programs
USF students find assistance in paying for college in a number of ways.
- University Scholar Program
- Tuition Grants
- Cal Grants
- Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program
- The Federal Work-Study Program
- The Nursing Student Loan
- Direct Student Loans
- Unsubsidized Direct Student Loans
University Scholars Program
New freshman applicants for admission who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who have demonstrated extraordinary scholarship and aptitude, based on their academic grade point average and SAT or ACT scores (a minimum grade point average of 3.8 as calculated by the USF Office of Admission, and a minimum combined SAT test score of 1320, or a minimum ACT test score of 30), are invited to enter USF as University Scholars. Scholars receive a renewable scholarship that pays a substantial portion of the cost of the academic year's full-time tuition for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study at USF. In 2012/2013, University Scholars receive $20,000 per year.
Renewal is automatic as long as scholars achieve a grade point average of 3.25 for each semester's work.
**SAT scores are combined Math and Critical Reading (Verbal). ACT scores can be used if no SAT scores are available, or if higher than the combined SAT scores.**
USF Academic Merit Award
New freshmen applicants for Fall admission who are US
citizens or permanent residents and who did not qualify for University Scholars
may be eligible for one of three merit based awards. Awards are based on
incoming GPA and test scores and are limited to eight semesters of
undergraduate study at USF.A student cannot be awarded both University Scholars and USF
Academic Merit Awards.Eligibility for these fixed amount
awards is based on the following combination of scores:**
1.To be eligible for the President's Merit Award of $10,000, a student must have:
a. incoming cumulative GPA of 3.78 or higher AND an
SAT score or 1350 ( Math and Critical Reading Scores only) or ACT composite score
of 30 or higher
b. incoming cumulative GPA of 3.89 or higher AND an SAT score of
1250 ( Math and Critical Reading Scores only) or ACT composite
score of 27 or higher
c. incoming cumulative GPA
of 4.00 or higher AND an SAT score of
1170 ( Math and Critical Reading Scores only) or ACT composite score
of 25 or higher
2. To be eligible for the Provost's Merit Award of $8,000, a student must
have:
a. incoming GPA of 3.49 or higher AND an SAT score
or 1350 ( Math and Critical Reading Scores
only) or ACT composite score of 30 or higher
b. incoming GPA of 3.68 or higher AND an
SAT score of 1170 ( Math and Critical Reading
Scores only) or ACT composite score of 25 or higher
c. incoming GPA of 3.78 or higher AND an
SAT score of 1110 ( Math and Critical Reading
Scores only) or ACT composite score of 24 or higher
3. To be eligible for the Dean's Merit Award of $6,000, a student must
have:
a. incoming GPA of 3.26 or higher AND an SAT score
or 1300 ( Math and Critical Reading Scores
only) or ACT composite score of 29 or higher
b. incoming GPA of 3.49 or higher AND an
SAT score of 1140 ( Math and Critical Reading
Scores only) or ACT composite score of 24 or higher
c. incoming GPA of 3.60 or higher AND an
SAT score of 1070 (Math and Critical Reading Scores only) or ACT composite
score of 23 or higher
Renewal of the USF Academic Merit Award requires that a
student maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 at the end of
each academic year.
Please note:
** SAT
scores are combined Math and Critical Reading (Verbal). ACT scores can be
used if no SAT scores are available, or if higher than the combined SAT scores.
** The
USF Academic Merit Award criteria shown on this web site are guidelines only,
used for the Fall 2012 awards. Actual awards for Fall 2012 may vary,
depending on a formula used to determine awards that takes into account
variable grades and test scores, each in relation to the other, that fall on a
scale within the ranges listed. Awards are also made in relation to the
entire applicant pool.**
Cal Grant
If you are a California resident, complete and submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification form. The form is available at your high school, in the Office of Financial Aid at your current college, or may be submitted online at www.calgrants.org.
Receiving Assistance
Please note that a financial aid award cannot be made until you are admitted, so a timely admission decision is part of a timely financial aid application. Please respond promptly to all requests for additional information and documents sent to you by the Office of Financial Aid.
For complete information about each of these programs and other financial aid issues, visit the USF Financial Aid office or make an appointment to meet with a financial aid counselor by calling Enrollment and Financial Services: 415-422-2020.
