Freshmen Admissions Scholarships

Florida Resident Scholarships

The University of South Florida Office of Admissions gives over 10,000 merit-based awards annually to admitted first-time-in-college students. USF will automatically consider individuals for competitive merit-based scholarships when they submit and complete the freshman application for Summer or Fall 2025 by January 15, 2025. 

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Consideration for merit awards is based on the same academic records used for admission and residency status.
  • No additional applications are required as all accepted students are automatically considered for our admissions merit scholarships.
  • Merit-based awards are limited; therefore, we encourage students to complete their application by the January 15 deadline.
  • Students may also be eligible for additional financial assistance after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

AWARDING NOTIFICATION:

  • Students are notified of their award via postal mail and can monitor their financial aid package via the Student Self-Service portal after we release initial admissions decisions.

OUR SCHOLARSHIPS:

Florida Residents

  • USF Presidential Award: ~$16,000 (up to $4,000 per year)
    The USF Presidential Award is the highest merit award for Florida residents based on academic excellence throughout high school.  The scholarship can be used toward the cost of attendance at the University of South Florida for up to four years or the completion of a bachelor's degree (whichever comes first).
  • USF Directors Award: ~$14,000 (up to $3,500 per year)
    The USF Directors Award recognizes the achievements of students that have met and exceeded the academic profile of the incoming FTIC class each year. It is awarded to students who showed scholarly rigor throughout high school and across their standardized tests. The scholarship can be used toward the cost of attendance at the University of South Florida for up to four years or the completion of a bachelor's degree (whichever comes first).
  • USF Scholars Gold Award: ~$8,000 (up to $2,000 per year)
    The USF Scholars Gold Award is received by the largest group of students to have met the academic standards of the University of South Florida. Students that achieve this award showed rigor throughout diverse high school coursework and proficiency on their standardized tests. The scholarship can be used toward the cost of attendance at the University of South Florida for up to four years or the completion of a bachelor's degree (whichever comes first).

Check USF's cost of attendance to see our tuition and fees and understand the ways grants, scholarships and more can help you save.

Cost of Attendance