Organizer Information
University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university in Florida with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. Creative and arts-related study is offered through the College of Design, Art & Performance, including the School of Art & Art History and the School of Theatre & Dance. The School of Art & Art History offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in studio art, graphic arts, and art history, while Theatre & Dance provides undergraduate programs in theatre and dance.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of South Florida
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate
- Degrees Offered: BA / BFA / MA / MFA
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Art History / Graphic Arts / Graphic Design / Illustration / Animation & Digital Modeling / Photography / Film & Video / Theatre / Dance / Design
- Relevant Programs: BA in Art History; BA in Studio Art; BFA in Studio Art; BFA in Graphic Arts; MFA in Studio Art; MA in Art History; BA in Theatre; BA in Musical Theatre; BFA in Dance Performance; BA in Dance Studies.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Varies by study level and program
- Application Deadline: Program- and applicant-specific
- Start of Studies: Fall, Spring, or Summer depending on program
- Application Fee: $30 USF application fee; additional program-specific SlideRoom fees may apply.
- Tuition: From $670.42 per undergraduate credit for non-Florida residents; from $994.29 per graduate credit for non-Florida residents, before any program-specific differences.
- Funding: Scholarships, fellowships, and merit-based international scholarships are available.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- The School of Art & Art History covers Art History, Studio Art, Graphic Arts, Animation & Digital Modeling, Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture & Extended Media, and Video/Film-related study. Graphic Arts is offered through BFA concentrations in Graphic Design and Illustration.
- Studio Art supports interdisciplinary work across media including animation, ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture/extended media, and video. The MFA is explicitly interdisciplinary and encourages broad media exploration.
- The MA in Art History supports research in areas including American, European, Middle Eastern, Asian, Greek, and Roman art and encourages interdisciplinary study with fields such as film and new media studies.
- For undergraduate Studio Art and Art History admission, the School of Art & Art History does not require a portfolio. The exception is the BFA in Graphic Arts, which has a separate portfolio-based admission process.
General Eligibility
- International applicants may apply to USF undergraduate or graduate programs, subject to the requirements of their applicant category and intended program. International undergraduate applicants are classified as freshmen or transfer applicants according to their prior post-secondary study.
- For graduate admission, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or an equivalent foreign qualification and meet USF's graduate academic requirements. The MFA in Studio Art and MA in Art History have additional school-specific requirements.
- The MFA in Studio Art requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent and either a qualifying graduate degree or a minimum B/3.0 average in upper-division undergraduate study, plus successful portfolio acceptance.
- The MA in Art History requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent and either a graduate degree and/or a B/3.0 average or better in upper-division undergraduate study.
- The BFA in Graphic Arts is a limited-access upper-level program. Applicants must meet specified GPA, prerequisite-course, general education, foreign-language, portfolio, and program application requirements.
Language Requirements
- International graduate applicants from countries where English is not the official language must demonstrate English proficiency. USF's current graduate minimums include IELTS 6.5, PTE-A 53, and Duolingo 110, with additional accepted tests and waiver conditions listed by USF.
- For the MFA in Studio Art and MA in Art History, international applicants from non-English-speaking countries or applicants without a U.S. degree must provide IELTS 6.5, PTE-A 53, or TOEFL 79 iBT (with additional TOEFL formats accepted by the programs).
- International undergraduate English/testing requirements vary by applicant category. For international freshmen, USF currently requires minimum SAT, ACT, or CLT scores rather than accepting TOEFL or IELTS as substitutes.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate USF application | $30 |
| Graduate USF application | $30 |
| BFA Graphic Arts supplemental SlideRoom submission | $10 |
| MFA Studio Art supplemental SlideRoom submission | $12 |
USF's $30 application fee is non-refundable. The Graphic Arts and MFA applications have additional SlideRoom submission fees.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition & Required Per-Credit Charges | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Florida resident | $210.19/credit | Per credit | $7 A&S + $10 Athletic + $20 Student Union per term |
| Undergraduate | Non-Florida resident | $670.42/credit | Per credit | Same flat fees; out-of-state charges included above |
| Graduate | Florida resident | $430.43/credit | Per credit | $7 A&S + $10 Athletic + $20 Student Union per term |
| Graduate | Non-Florida resident | $994.29/credit | Per credit | Same flat fees; out-of-state charges included above |
USF states that rates depend on course level, residency, admission term, campus, and, for some graduate students, college or program. The published rates are estimates and may change.
Funding & Financial Support
- USF offers scholarships and fellowships, including merit-based scholarships for international students. International first-year applicants may be automatically considered for eligible merit scholarships when they complete the required freshman application by the stated scholarship deadline. International awards include out-of-state tuition waivers such as the Green and Gold Presidential, Directors, and Scholars awards.
- USF Foundation scholarships are also available, with eligibility varying by academic level, college affiliation, or area of study.
University Services & Academic Support
- Relevant creative-program support includes specialized studios and technical facilities, faculty mentoring, visiting artists and scholars, exhibition opportunities, research and museum connections, and study-abroad opportunities. MFA students can access exhibition opportunities through university-affiliated galleries and the USF Contemporary Art Museum.
- The MA in Art History maintains connections with museums and cultural institutions in the region that support study, research, internships, and professional development.
Application Requirements
Requirements vary by program.
- Undergraduate Studio Art / Art History: USF undergraduate application and required academic documentation; no portfolio is required for these School of Art & Art History programs.
- BFA Graphic Arts: University admission, program application, portfolio, 250-word written response, required prerequisite coursework, and specified GPA requirements. The portfolio must contain 10 visual-art pieces.
- MFA Studio Art: Bachelor's degree or equivalent, transcripts, artist statement, resume, portfolio, and English-proficiency documentation for applicable international applicants. Recommendation letters are optional.
- MA Art History: Research paper, statement of research goals, CV, three references/recommendation letters, transcripts, and English-proficiency documentation for applicable international applicants. Some applicants may be asked to interview.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Undergraduate International Early Action Deadline: 2 November 2026
- Undergraduate International Early Action Materials Deadline: 16 November 2026
- Undergraduate International Regular Decision Deadline: 16 December 2026
- Undergraduate International Regular Decision Materials Deadline: 15 January 2027
- Undergraduate International Rolling Deadline: 1 March 2027
- Undergraduate International Rolling Materials Deadline: 15 March 2027)
- BFA Graphic Arts Fall 2026 Supplemental Deadline: 22 March 2026
- MFA Studio Art Application Deadline: 15 January 2027
- MA Art History Priority Deadline for Fall Funding Consideration: 1 February 2027
- MA Art History Final Fall Deadline: 15 April 2027
- MA Art History Spring Deadline: 15 October 2026
- Fall 2027 International Transfer Application Deadline: 1 June 2027
- Fall 2027 International Transfer Materials Deadline: 15 June 2027
- Fall 2027 Classes Begin: 24 August 2027
Location
University of South Florida — Tampa and St. Petersburg, United States
Additional Details
- USF's School of Art & Art History operates separate university and school-level admission processes for its graduate programs. Program-specific requirements and deadlines therefore take precedence over general university information.
- The MA in Art History page contains a program-level inconsistency: it describes admissions as fall term only while also publishing a 15 October spring deadline. The published deadline information has therefore been retained rather than resolving the conflict by inference.
- The published 2026–2027 tuition rates are assessed per credit and are subject to change; they should not be converted into annual or total program costs without an official credit-load basis.