Frequently asked questions

Transfer equivalency refers to how a course taken at a different institution will be equated to a similar USF course and applied to your USF credits.

No. USF does not award transfer credit for some courses (such as technical courses taken as part of an A.S. program). USF also cannot accept transfer coursework if USF doesn’t have a similar course.

There is no set maximum number of credits that can be transferred to USF, but there are implications for how they are evaluated and applied. USF has residency requirements that outline how many credits must be completed in residence at the university based on your major. Your major academic advisor will guide you through the specific requirements once admitted.

It is also important to note that for an undergraduate degree, students can take up to 110% of the required credit hours at the regular tuition rate; after that, an excess credit hour surcharge is applied.

For accepted transfer courses, both grades and credits transfer and become part of your USF transcript.

A minimum grade of C is required for the courses to be able to be accepted as a transfer course.

Note: Some academic departments require grades higher than C in particular courses counted toward major requirements.

This likely means USF has never evaluated that course. In that case, you may use the option to request the course be evaluated.

The tool is just a guide, although every effort is made to ensure accuracy and reliability. USF’s Office of Admissions makes the official evaluation of all transfer courses.

It is updated each time a new course equivalency is determined.

Transfer credits will be officially evaluated by USF’s Office of Admissions after you submit your completed admission application, including all transcripts from other academic institutions. Evaluations are usually completed within two weeks of receiving the completed application, although those times may be extended during times of heavy application volume.

USF’s Office of Admissions is responsible for facilitating all transfer evaluations. They collaborate with academic departments when necessary to make equivalency decisions.

The course equivalency database is considered the preliminary evaluation.

Official transcripts must be sent from your prior institution(s). Contact prior institutions to identify their method for requesting and sending official transcripts to USF.

Yes, the University of South Florida accepts a wide range of incoming credits, including Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), dual enrollment coursework, and military training credits evaluated through ACE. All credits are reviewed upon admission to determine how they apply toward your degree requirements. Students can view their official transfer credit evaluation in Degree Works once processed.

Regarding military credit, it is important to note:

• Most ACE credits apply to lower-level courses, such as associate degree classes.
• Few ACE credits translate to upper-level college coursework.
• Colleges don’t always follow ACE recommendations.
• Colleges have the final say on granting credits for military training and experience.

Test scores such as AP, IB, AICE, and CLEP are evaluated using USF’s established credit-by-exam charts. Each exam has a required minimum score that determines the number and type of credits awarded. If your scores meet the minimum requirement, USF will assign the equivalent course or elective credit during your transfer credit evaluation. Once processed, you can view how your exam credits are applied to your degree in Degree Works.

Yes. USF accepts international transcripts from accredited secondary and post-secondary institutions. All official transcripts must be sent directly from each institution. If your records are not issued in English, you must provide a certified, word-for-word English translation with your documents.

In many cases, transcripts are evaluated by USF; however, some programs or applicants may be required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES-member agency to determine U.S. equivalency and GPA, especially at the graduate level. You should review the specific international admissions page for any additional evaluation requirements.

Transfer credits are evaluated course-by-course to determine how they apply to your USF degree. Depending on the course content and equivalencies, your credits may count toward:

• General Education requirements (e.g., math, writing, social sciences, natural sciences).
• Major or prerequisite requirements, if the course matches a USF equivalent needed for your program.
• Elective credit, if the course is college-level but does not directly match a specific USF requirement.

Your official degree audit will show exactly where each course applies once your transfer credit evaluation is completed by the Office of Admissions. If you’d like help optimizing how your credits fit into your degree, an academic advisor can review your audit with you.

At USF, previous transfer credits do not impact your USF institutional GPA. Only grades earned in USF courses are used to calculate your USF GPA once you enroll.

However, your transfer coursework does contribute to your overall (cumulative) college GPA, which includes all college-level coursework you’ve taken that carries a grade and is considered equivalent. This cumulative GPA is often used for admissions decisions, program eligibility, and sometimes for graduation distinctions.

To stay on track for timely graduation, it’s important to understand how your transfer credits apply to your degree and plan your remaining coursework intentionally. You can do this by:

• Reviewing your degree audit once your transfer credit evaluation is complete to see which requirements your credits have fulfilled.
• Meeting with your academic advisor early and regularly as they can help you map out an efficient course sequence based on your major, prerequisites, and remaining requirements.
• Taking courses in the correct order, especially for majors with strict prerequisite chains.
• Registering on time each term to secure the classes you need.
• Following a graduation plan that keeps you on pace for the required number of credits and milestones each year.

Doing these steps helps ensure your transfer credits work for you and support an on-time graduation path.

Yes. USF requires students to complete a minimum number of credits in residence to earn a degree. In most cases:

• You must complete at least 30 credit hours at USF.
• At least 30 of your final 60 credit hours must be taken at USF.
• Most majors also require that at least 50% of major-level coursework (upper-level courses in your program) be completed at USF.

It is important to talk to your major academic advisor about the department’s specific requirements regarding residency. These requirements ensure you complete a significant portion of your degree at USF, even if you transfer in with many credits.

Before you enroll at USF, the Office of Transfer Student Success (OTSS) is your main point of contact. Our team can help you understand how your credits may transfer, what to expect in your evaluation, and how your coursework can support your intended major.

Once you are admitted and have an official transfer credit evaluation, your major academic advisor becomes your primary resource. They will review how your credits apply to degree requirements, help create your academic plan, and guide you toward graduation.

Yes. Before you enroll at USF, you can meet with an advisor in the Office of Transfer Student Success (OTSS). Our team is here to help you understand how your credits may transfer, explore degree options, and prepare for a smooth transition.

Once you are admitted and have an official transfer credit evaluation, you will then meet with your major academic advisor, who will create your degree plan, review how your credits apply to program requirements, and guide you through registration.

Yes. USF offers several structured transfer pathways designed to help students move seamlessly from a Florida College System institution to USF. The primary pathway is Fuse, a 2+2 transfer program that guarantees admission to USF upon completion of an approved A.A. degree and major-specific requirements at a partner college. Fuse provides a clear roadmap of required courses, access to USF resources while you’re still at your state college, and dedicated support to keep you on track for your intended major.

USF also participates in statewide articulation agreements that ensure A.A. degrees from Florida public colleges transfer smoothly and apply toward bachelor’s degree requirements but it is important to note that many majors have specific course requirements that should be completed within the A.A. degree.

Before you enroll, OTSS advisors can help you understand which pathway applies to you and how your credits fit into your intended program. Once admitted, your major academic advisor will guide you through the remaining degree requirements and ensure you stay on track for graduation.