Estimated Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, housing and meals, health insurance, books, travel, and personal expenses. Learn more about undergraduate cost of attendance.

Certification of Finances

If you’re intending to study on an F-1 or J-1 visa, you will be required to complete a USF Certification of Finances that shows your ability to pay for your first year at USF. Once you have applied to USF, please log in to your Dons Status Page to complete the USF Certification of Finances form and your supporting financial documents. Documents must be dated within 12 months from the program’s start date and English translations must be provided if the documents are not issued in English.

  • Bank statement(s) must show money held in checking, savings, certificates of deposit, or money market accounts.
  • Stock/investment/retirement accounts, lines of credit, and income/tax statements cannot be accepted as proof of available funding.
  • Scholarships provided by your government or other agencies can be used for the Certification of Finances. Please include a scholarship document or letter provided by the government or agency.

If you are intending to study at USF on a different visa (e.g. E-2, H-4, R-2, etc.), please email a copy of your visa to appservices@usfca.edu instead of completing this form.

The 2023–2024 cost of attendance is $83,662, and the required amount increases slightly every year. Applicants with a strong academic profile may receive merit scholarships ranging up to $29,000 USD (first-year students) or $16,000 (transfer students) annually. Your USF Certification of Finances must show proof of funding to support your cost of attendance.

Merit Scholarships

Merit scholarships for first-year students are awarded based on your USF-calculated GPA in core academic subjects. Merit scholarships are renewable each year for up to four years, as long as you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress toward your degree.

Fall 2024 international first-year merit scholarships

Merit award USF GPA Range Amount
University Scholarship ≥ 4.01 $29,000
Presidential Scholarship 3.95 - 4.00 $24,000
Provost Scholarship 3.85 - 3.94 $22,000
Hilltop Scholarship 3.7 - 3.84 $20,000
Ignatius Scholarship 3.5 - 3.69 $18,000
Dons Scholarship 3.2 - 3.49 $16,000

USF automatically considers all transfer applicants for merit scholarships. These merit scholarships are determined by your transfer GPA at the time of application, which is a calculated cumulative GPA of all college courses you’ve taken.

Fall 2024 international transfer merit scholarships

USF GPA Range Amount per year
≥ 3.75 $16,000
3.50 - 3.74 $14,000
3.20 - 3.49 $10,000
2.90 - 3.19 $7,000

Unfortunately, USF does not offer full tuition scholarships for international students, and international students are not eligible for need-based financial aid.

Financial Aid for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are eligible to apply for financial aid.

Institute of International Education Scholarship Directory

Funding for US Study Online is a database of scholarships, fellowships, and grants organized by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

International Admission

Lone Mountain Main 251
2800 Turk Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
Hours

Monday - Friday:
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.