How to apply for engineering at the University of South Florida: nine BS engineering majors, with direct entry to a specific major for SAT Math 610, ACT Math 26 or a 3.6 high school GPA, admission routes and prerequisites for domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer students

The University of South Florida (USF) is a public university in Florida, and its College of Engineering is on the Tampa campus. The college says its student services advisors guide newly admitted undergraduates through orientation, first-term registration and continuation into a specific engineering major. This guide covers domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants. Computer science is not in the College of Engineering and has its own guide on this site.

1. Engineering majors

• Nine BS majors (majors page): Aerospace (BSAE), Biomedical (BSBE), Chemical (BSCH), Civil (BSCE), Computer Engineering Systems (BSCPE), Electrical (BSEE), Environmental (BSEV), Industrial (BSIE) and Mechanical (BSME) Engineering.
• ABET: the accreditation page says the BS programs in Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The same page lists objectives and enrollment data for Environmental Engineering, but it is not named in the accreditation statement; Aerospace and Computer Engineering Systems do not appear on the page. USF does not publish the status of these three; ask the college.
• Accelerated BS/MS programs are available.
• Curriculum: each major’s four-year plan and flowchart are PDFs, which this guide did not read; download them from the majors page.
• Laptop: all engineering students are expected to own a laptop that can run course software such as MATLAB, SolidWorks, AutoCAD and Python.

2. Getting into an engineering major

You are admitted to USF first. The college says first-time-in-college students, and lower-level transfers with 12–29 credits, who meet the criteria below are granted entry into the specific engineering program.

• Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Industrial or Mechanical: admitted to USF as degree-seeking, and one of:
  • SAT Math of at least 610;
  • ACT Math of at least 26;
  • a high school GPA of at least 3.6 on USF’s recalculated scale.
• Biomedical Engineering is a specialized admissions program; see its section in the catalog. USF’s international requirements page also lists it among majors with specific high school GPA and SAT/ACT/CLT requirements.
• Aerospace and Computer Engineering Systems are not listed in the college’s entry criteria; USF does not publish them on that page, so ask Engineering Student Services.
• After entry: students may need to meet program-specific requirements to progress to the upper division, and the state-mandated common prerequisites are listed in each program’s catalog section. This guide could not check the catalog.
• Summer and conditional admits: summer admits must take a 3-credit math preparatory course in Summer B and earn an “S”; those who do not may be redirected to another major under USF’s degree progression policy. Summer and conditional admits join at least one engineering academic support program in their first fall or spring term.
• Required course: Foundations of Engineering is a mandatory orientation course.

3. High school preparation and math placement

• Math Placement Test (MPT): new first-year students must pass the first two subjects (basic algebra and college algebra); those who took pre-calculus or calculus also take pre-calculus/trigonometry. 12 out of 15 passes. Students who pass all three are encouraged to start Calculus I in fall.
• Exemptions: SAT Math 670+, ACT Math 29+, CPT College Level Math 90+, completed Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trig (C or better, not C-, or exam credit), or completed Calculus I (same). Exam-credit equivalents are in the catalog.
• University expectations: USF expects coursework beyond state minimums, especially in math, science and foreign language, and encourages AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment. The engineering pages do not list separate high school physics or chemistry requirements.
• GPA weighting: USF adds 1.0 for AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment courses and 0.5 for honors, with a C or better.

4. Dates and materials (fall 2027)

• Early Action: apply by 2 November 2026, materials by 16 November, decision 9 December (admit, deny or defer).
• Regular Decision: apply by 16 December 2026, materials by 15 January 2027, decision 10 February (admit, waitlist or deny).
• Rolling: apply by 1 March 2027, materials by 15 March, rolling decisions from early March.
• Scholarship consideration: complete the application and materials by 15 January 2027.
• Application: USF application or Common App; $30 non-refundable fee.
• Testing required: at least one of SAT, ACT or CLT, superscored. Subsection minimums: SAT RW 490 and Math 480; ACT Reading 19, English 17, Math 19; CLT Verbal+Writing 38 and Quantitative 16. Fall 2026 admitted mid-ranges: SAT 1290–1420, ACT 28–32, CLT 92–100, GPA 4.13–4.58.
• No essay: USF does not request one and will not read it.
• Foreign language: two years of the same language in high school (or two college semesters); students without it may still be admitted but must complete it before graduating.

5. US domestic students

• In-state vs out-of-state: admissions determines Florida residency from your application, which sets your tuition; without enough information you are classed as non-Florida. Tuition amounts are in the rate tables on the tuition page, which this guide did not read.
• Admissions scholarships are awarded automatically from your application, for both in-state and out-of-state students, and appear in your acceptance letter. Amounts are not shown on the static page; check the freshman scholarships page.
• Florida residents can receive Bright Futures awards.
• Out-of-state students: the international scholarships page says the merit-based out-of-state tuition waivers go to admitted first-year students who are not Florida residents (amounts in the international section below); your acceptance letter shows what you receive.
• Florida dual-enrollment A.A. holders can be evaluated as freshmen (eligible for admissions scholarships) or under Board of Governors Regulation 6.005 (not eligible).
• Engineering scholarships: donor-funded awards with a separate online application, priority deadline 1 February; the page lists 2025/2026 awards, some requiring Florida residency or FAFSA-based need.

6. International students

• Deadlines: the same as domestic freshmen — Early Action 2 November 2026, Regular 16 December, Rolling 1 March 2027. USF advises applying early because documents and immigration steps take time.
• English: applicants from non-English-speaking countries prove English with SAT Reading and Writing 490+, ACT English 17+ and Reading 19+, or CLT Verbal+Writing 38+. USF does not accept TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or similar tests as substitutes.
• Credentials: proof of completing the equivalent of a US high school diploma (generally 12–13 years with a diploma or certificate), plus transcripts and exam results for all secondary work. Send originals or certified copies with certified English translations, emailed by the school to internationaltranscripts@usf.edu or posted.
• Testing: summer or fall applicants must take the SAT, ACT or CLT before December, with scores sent directly by the testing agency.
• International scholarships (summer/fall 2027): complete the application by 15 January for automatic, limited consideration; awards are mailed. The out-of-state tuition waivers are:
  • Green and Gold Presidential: about $44,000 (up to $11,000 a year);
  • Green and Gold Directors: about $36,000 (up to $9,000 a year);
  • Green and Gold Scholars: about $20,000 (up to $5,000 a year).
  They apply only to out-of-state tuition, not housing, meals or books, and may pay less if you take fewer credits.
• Costs: the international cost page says tuition depends on level, residency and housing; amounts are not on the static page, see the tuition page.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read for this guide do not say whether the Gaokao is considered or give a score. International freshmen must still submit the SAT, ACT or CLT, which also serve as English proof.
• Documents: high school diploma, all high school transcripts and exam results (such as Huikao), with certified English translations.
• Country page: USF has a by-country page with advisors and academic criteria, loaded by script and not readable for this guide; select China on the country page.

8. Transfer students

• 12–29 credits: first-year criteria apply (section 2).
• 30–59 credits: admitted to USF with at least 30 credits, and completed two of Calculus I, Calculus II, Calculus-based Physics I with lab and Chemistry I with lab, with a B or better (not B-) in at least one. Maximum two attempts; a withdrawal counts as an attempt.
• 60+ credits: admitted to USF and completed Calculus I, Calculus II and Calculus-based Physics I with lab, with a B or better in at least one, same attempt rule.
• Biomedical Engineering is limited access; see the catalog.
• Credit: courses outside Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System can transfer with a C or better if equivalent, possibly for fewer hours; engineering and technology courses from technical schools or professional/military training generally do not apply. Syllabi may be requested.
• University level: international transfers need a 2.50 transfer GPA, completion of at least 67% of attempted hours and the Board of Governors minimums; non-English-speaking applicants prove English with SAT, ACT or CLT.

9. Checklist

US domestic students:

• Apply Early Action by 2 November 2026, or complete by 15 January for scholarships
• Take the SAT, ACT or CLT; aim for SAT Math 610, ACT Math 26 or a 3.6 GPA for direct entry
• Florida residents: Bright Futures; engineering scholarships by 1 February

International students (including from China):

• Finish the SAT, ACT or CLT before December; English is proved through these scores, not TOEFL or IELTS
• Prepare certified English translations of your diploma, transcripts and exam results
• Complete by 15 January for automatic out-of-state waiver consideration

Transfer students:

• Complete Calculus I, II and Calculus-based Physics I, with at least one B
• Keep a transfer GPA of at least 2.50

Sources: University of South Florida, Engineering undergraduate majors; ABET accreditation; First-year requirements to enter the College of Engineering; Transfer requirements to enter the College of Engineering; Engineering scholarships; Engineering laptop requirement; Freshman academic requirements; Freshman dates and deadlines; Freshman scholarships; International freshman academic requirements; International freshman deadlines; International freshman application steps; International transfer requirements; International scholarships; International cost of attendance; Tuition rates. The catalog could not be checked for this guide; confirm program-specific requirements, Biomedical Engineering selection criteria and tuition amounts in USF’s catalog and on its website.