International Graduate Financial Requirements
Certification of Finance - for F1 Student Visas
All international students seeking an F1 student visa are required by the U.S. government to submit a Certification of Finance (COF), also called “Proof of Funds”, so that USF can issue an I-20 form to you upon admission. The I-20 is needed to schedule a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The COF is evidence that you have sufficient funds to pay for tuition and living expenses for the first year of graduate studies at USF.
In your application account, please upload your COF documents (bank statements, bank letter, scholarship letter) in the ‘International Applicant Requirements’ section.
Review proof of funding details
Estimated First-Year Budget – Summer/Fall 2022 and Spring 2023
Below are estimates for the first year of study for the graduate programs at USF.
| ARTS AND SCIENCES PROGRAMS | TUITION AND FEES | LIVING EXPENSES | OTHER EXPENSES | ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics | $28,038 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $51,850 |
| Asia Pacific Studies | $24,931 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $48,745 |
| Asia Pacific Studies Cert. | $18,715 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $42,530 |
| Biology | $18,715* | $5,321 | $3,804 | $9,195 |
| Biotechnology | $26,484 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $50,295 |
| Chemistry | $18,715* | $8,565 | $3,804 | $12,440 |
| Computer Science Bridge | $34,253 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $58,065 |
| Computer Science | $24,931 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $48,745 |
| Data Science | $49,791 | $25,496** | $4,929** | $80,215 |
| Energy Systems | $24,931 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $48,745 |
| Environmental Management | $24,931 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $48,745 |
| International & Development Economics | $28,038 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $51,850 |
| International Studies | $31,146 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $54,960 |
| Migration Studies | $26,484 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $50,295 |
| Museum Studies | $31,146 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $54,960 |
| Professional Communications | $24,931 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $48,745 |
| Sport Management | $23,377 | $25,496** | $4,929** | $53,800 |
| Urban & Public Affairs | $28,038 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $51,850 |
| Writing | $24,931 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $48,745 |
* Students admitted to Biology and Chemistry receive full scholarship and teaching assistantship. Graduate Student Association fee is $70 per year.
** Data Science and Sport Management are 12-month programs, so Living Expenses and Other Expenses reflect 12 months of costs, rather than 9 months. Tuition for Data Science as indicated above is an estimate based on 32 units for first academic year of study. Total tuition cost (35 units) is $54,425 for 2022-2023, which includes 3 additional units in the second academic year (Summer 2023).
| EDUCATION PROGRAMS | TUITION AND FEES | LIVING EXPENSES | OTHER EXPENSES | ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's programs | ||||
| Catholic Educational Leadership (MA) | $22,539 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $46,350 |
| Teaching - Concentration in Catholic Education (with Credential) | $16,629 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $40,440 |
| Counseling Psychology, MFT concentration (MA) - 3 year | $33,773 | $25,496 | $4,929 | $64,200 |
| Counseling Psychology, MFT concentration (MA) - 2 year | $41,263 | $25,496 | $4,929 | $71,690 |
| Counseling Psychology, School Counseling (MA w/ Credential) | $28,821 | $25,496 | $4,929 | $59,245 |
| Educational Technology (MA) | $22,539 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $46,350 |
| Educational Technology (MA with Credential) | $27,756 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $51,570 |
| Educational Technology Credential | $15,049 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $38,860 |
| Higher Education & Student Affairs (MA) | $22,539 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $46,350 |
| Human Rights Education (MA) | $22,539 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $46,350 |
| International & Multicultural Education (MA) | $22,539 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $46,350 |
| Organization & Leadership (MA) | $22,539 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $46,350 |
| Special Education (MA with Credential) | $28,821 | $25,496 | $4,929 | $59,245 |
| Teaching (MAT with Credential) | $27,756 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $51,570 |
| Teaching - Urban Education & Social Justice (MAT with Credential) | $27,756 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $51,570 |
| Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate | $18,794 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $42,605 |
| Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA) | $22,539 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $46,350 |
| Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA with Credential) | $27,756 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $51,570 |
| Teaching Reading (MA with Certificate) | $16,298 | $25,496 | $4,929 | $46,720 |
| Teaching Reading (MA with Certificate & Credential) | $27,756 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $51,570 |
| Doctoral Programs | ||||
| Catholic Educational Leadership (EdD) | $21,163 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $44,975 |
| International & Multicultural Education (EdD) | $21,163 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $44,975 |
| Learning & Instruction (EdD) | $16,945 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $40,760 |
| Organization & Leadership (EdD) | $21,163 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $44,975 |
| MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS | TUITION AND FEES | LIVING EXPENSES | OTHER EXPENSES | ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time MBA | $48,743 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $72,555 |
| Full-Time Financial Analysis | $43,556 | $25,496 | $4,929 | $73,980 |
| Entrepreneurship & Innovation | $51,541 | $25,496 | $4,929 | $81,965 |
| Information Systems | $29,886 | $20,009 | $3,804 | $53,700 |
| Marketing Intelligence | $46,664 | $23,667 | $4,846 | $75,175 |
| NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS PROGRAMS | TUITION AND FEES | LIVING EXPENSES | OTHER EXPENSES | ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Health Informatics | $31,076 | $25,496 | $7,581 | $64,150 |
| Nursing CNL for Non-Nurse with any Bachelor's to MSN | $60,848 | $25,496 | $7,581 | $93,925 |
| Public Health | $34,183 | $25,496 | $7,581 | $67,260 |
| Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) | $54,688 | $25,496 | $7,581 | $87,765 |
Proof of Funding Details
Bank statement or Bank letter with the account holder’s name, currency type and account type in English should be uploaded. The document must be dated within 12 months of your program start date, and should show the minimum (or higher) amount required for the first year of studies in your program.
Valid account types include checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit (CDs), money market accounts and cash in investment accounts. U.S.-based salary pay stubs are accepted to cover living and other expenses. Funds in stocks/investments, bonds, lines of credit, real property or statements of income are not accepted.
Scholarship letters are also accepted from governments and other organizations. The letter must be in English and indicate the amount of funds awarded.
Sponsors – If you have a sponsor, they must provide a signed statement that says: “I agree to financially support [your name] during their graduate studies at USF” for you to upload. Their name and signature on the letter must be in English characters with the date. Upload this letter to the application in the Certification of Finances section, along with their bank documents.
Dependents – If you have dependents who will need an F-2 visa, please provide additional proof of funding to cover their expenses. If you are awarded a scholarship that includes funding for your dependents, they will need to be listed on the scholarship letter.
For a 9-month program add an additional $5,400 per dependent adult. For a 12-month program include an additional $7,200 per dependent adult. Child dependents require an additional $400 for each month of the first year of your studies ($3600 for a 9-month program and $4800 for a 12-month program).
Living Expenses is an estimate for shared housing (rent), food at home ($400 per month), and health insurance ($3,480 for 2021-2022).
Other Expenses is an estimate for books, a local transit pass, and personal expenses, such as eating out and entertainment.