Scholarships for Freshmen

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers competitive, merit-based scholarships to incoming freshmen each year. You are selected for scholarships based upon:

• Your high school GPA (recalculated by admissions)
• Having a college coursework  GPA of 3.0
• SAT or ACT test scores
• your residency classification

Some scholarships may have additional selection criteria.

Florida Resident Scholarships | Non-Florida Resident Scholarships

These admissions scholarships may be combined with other university scholarships as well as scholarships you may receive from outside sources. You are strongly encouraged to submit the 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you qualify for financial aid, you will receive additional correspondence from USF’s University Scholarships & Financial Aid Services. All scholarship offers are counted as part of your financial aid package.

Requirements

• Apply for admission by January 2nd. You do not need to submit a separate scholarship application for these scholarships but may for many of the other university scholarships offered by USF. Refer to the admissions checklist to complete your application.
• Review your residency classification by checking OASIS. If necessary, please submit an updated residency affidavit by the priority date.
• Send updated credentials, including semester transcripts and SAT or ACT test scores.

If selected, you will be notified by mail as part of the admission acceptance letter or a separate scholarship offer letter. To accept your scholarship(s), log onto myUSF and follow the links to the Financial Aid 'Awards by Term'. To accept your scholarship(s), log onto myUSF and follow the links to the Financial Aid 'Awards by Term'.

Awarding Timeline

If you are selected for a scholarship, we will notify you between October and February. Your transcripts and test scores* received within the awarding timeline will be used for consideration. Even after you have been admitted, you may receive an admissions scholarship or an upgraded scholarship offer based on improved test scores and/or official first semester grades. As scholarship funds are limited, you should send updated information as soon as possible. Final high school transcripts or test scores received after the awarding timeline will not be considered for scholarship selection.

Note: The last ACT/SAT test dates that will be used for scholarship consideration are December 10, 2011(ACT) and December 3, 2011(SAT). The February 11, 2012 test date for ACT & SAT is the last date that will be used for admit decisions.

Accepting Your Scholarship(s)

After you receive your scholarship offer in the mail, follow these steps to accept your award:

• Click on OASIS on the top bar
• From the main menu select the option for “Financial Aid”
• Select “My Award and Loan Information”
• Select the “1213 (Fall 12, Spr 13, Sumr 13)” award year and click “Submit”
  • Under the “Terms & Conditions” tab, carefully review the provisions of your scholarship
  • Select “Accept” to verify you understand the terms and conditions associated with your award

Accepting your scholarship(s) is not a binding commitment to attend USF. You must pay the non-refundable $200 admission deposit by May 1 to secure your space in the freshman class.

Scholarship Renewal Terms

Freshman scholarships offered by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions are renewable for up to eight (8) consecutive semesters (four years) of undergraduate coursework or receipt of a bachelor’s degree (whichever occurs first) as long as you maintain the renewal criteria:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative USF GPA of 3.0
• Enroll as a full-time undergraduate student (minimum twelve (12) undergraduate USF credit hours per semester) in each term that scholarship funds are received. Funds are disbursed in the fall and spring semesters only
• Complete 30 USF credit hours per academic year. NOTE: Summer session courses completed at USF may count towards your scholarship renewal. Cross-enrolling (transient) at another college/university, repeating a course, receiving an incomplete grade or auditing a course are not considered as satisfying renewal criteria deficiencies. Additionally, credits earned through AP, IB, AICE or CLEP exams, dual enrollment or transfer credits from other colleges/universities are not considered toward your 30-credit-hour requirement.

International Students

International students may be eligible for non-need based scholarships. International students must provide appropriate visa/immigration documentation to the Office of International Services prior to receiving funds.

If you are a citizen of an eligible Caribbean or Latin American nation or resident of a U.S. territory (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), you will be considered for in-state scholarships. If you are selected for a scholarship, you will be reclassified temporarily as a Florida resident for tuition purposes as long as you retain the scholarship.