FAQs

It is important to know that each application is reviewed individually and acceptance decisions are rendered based on academic preparedness as indicated by your GPA and standardized test scores. For full acceptance a student should achieve a minimum 2.8 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale, accompanied by an ACT score of 20 or higher. Transfer students should have a 2.5 cumulative GPA. If you do not meet these criteria, we still strongly encourage you to apply as there are varying levels of acceptance. We also encourage students with exigent circumstances to provide supplemental information in the form of essays or letters of recommendation. If you are a prospective student with a disability and need assistance or accommodations during the admission/application process, please contact the Director of Learning Accessibility Services at 605-331-6648 or access@usiouxfalls.edu.

USF does not have an admissions deadline. However, it is in your best interest to apply sooner rather than later to ensure that you meet scholarship deadlines and receive the best financial aid offer available. We typically encourage high school students to apply during fall and early winter of their senior year.

USF requires that all unmarried, full-time students live on campus their freshman and sophomore year. Exceptions may be granted to students with medical issues or students who live with a parent/guardian in Sioux Falls. USF has a variety of residence halls and apartment style complexes available.

Yes! All students can receive parking tags for up to two vehicles for free. We have different parking lots designated for on-campus students and off-campus students.

No, you do not need to bring a lap top or other computer to campus, however many students choose to do so. There are computer labs with printers in every residence hall and in nearly every academic building, wireless hotspots all throughout campus and internet access in each residence hall room.

USF issues college credit for AP classes based on a test score of 4 or 5. Visit the AP and CLEP page to view credit for course listings.

In order to register for classes you need to submit a New Student Registration card and a $100 tuition deposit. This allows you to attend a New Student Registration Day where you will sign up for classes, take your ID picture, gain access to your USF email account and much more. For fall classes, the $100 tuition deposit is refundable until May 31.

USF accepts transfer credit from accredited post-secondary institutions. Your admissions counselor can help you determine how your courses might transfer to USF. Upon submission of your $100 tuition deposit, our Registrar's Office will conduct an official transcript evaluation.

All students accepted for admission for the fall are sent housing applications in the spring. We encourage you to submit your housing application and $100 housing deposit as soon as possible to be placed in your top residence hall choice. Final room and roommate assignments are made during the summer and are mailed out in July.

Financial aid makes the cost of education more affordable for students and their families. There are four primary types of financial aid. They are grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.

Enrolling in a college is an investment in the student's future. Families often think they cannot afford a private college education, but we believe a student who is admitted and wants to attend USF should not be prevented from doing so because of financial reasons. While understanding that the primary responsibility for meeting college costs rests with the students and their parents, financial aid programs are available to assist the family in attaining this goal.

You should complete the FAFSA as soon after October 1 as possible. Some of the aid programs have limited funding and are given first to students who make the priority date of January 1.

When you complete and submit a FAFSA an expected family contribution (EFC) is determined. This federal formula takes into account factors such as family income, assets, number of dependents, number in college, as well as other factors.

Your financial aid package is the combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and campus employment opportunities that you have been awarded.

By submitting your FAFSA and being accepted for admissions, you have applied for institutional aid. There are some scholarships that require additional applications. You must be attending USF full-time (12-17 credits) as an undergraduate student to receive institutional aid. Contact Admissions with further questions at 605-331-6600.

Applying for financial aid is voluntary. Filing the FAFSA may enable you to receive additional non-need based federal aid. If you decide not to complete the FAFSA, notify the USF Financial Aid Office so we can review your eligibility for institutional aid and create a financial aid package for you.

Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room and board, as well as an allowance for books, transportation and any personal expenses incurred by the student. Please contact a USF Financial Aid Counselor at 605-331-6623 to talk about how to cover these costs.

If you are applying for financial aid and receive a scholarship from a source outside USF, that scholarship becomes part of your financial aid package and is included in your total aid award. In some instances, it may be necessary to adjust other aid, usually a loan or work-study, to meet federal regulations. Please notify USF's Financial Aid Office as soon as you receive any scholarships from outside sources.

If there is a significant change in your income from the prior year, the Financial Aid Office may review your aid. This is only done in extreme cases and it may or may not affect the amount of aid you receive. Notify the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible if your circumstances have changed.

One of your biggest concerns might be “How am I going to pay for school?” Our experienced, helpful staff can guide you to many sources of financial aid. Some students qualify for grants and/or scholarships, many can receive loans with a variety of repayment options, and you might even pick up a work-study job on campus. Whatever your situation…traditional, nontraditional, veteran, single parent…we will help you navigate your financial aid options.

• Campus Preview Days – large group visits providing info sessions about USF, a campus tour and lunch.
• Create your own visit day – personal campus visits offered Monday - Friday except on holidays.

It is best to visit campus during the academic school year between September and May when students are on campus to get a real sense of the community at USF. Most seniors visit campus early in their senior year to get a feel for the environment on campus, learn more about USF, meet their admissions counselor, and become aware of our valuable timeline to keep on track during their busy senior year. The spring semester is a good time for juniors to visit to get a head start on their college search process.

Click here to sign up for a campus visit. Please indicate on the form any appointments you would like with professors, athletic coaches, fine arts directors; please feel free to add details in the additional comments section and we will do our best to accommodate your requests.

We encourage you to meet with an admission representative, who will talk about admission into the University of Sioux Falls and who can go over the basics of financial aid, housing, registration, and academic programs. If you would like further information about specific academic programs, financial aid, a student organization or other areas of interest, we will be happy to attempt to make an appointment for you with representatives of that area. In addition, you're welcome to visit our campus store, Cougar Central and have lunch in the McDonald Center provided by the Admissions Office.                                     

Once we have received your request to visit, a campus visit coordinator will begin working on your visit arrangements right away. Depending on the number of additional appointments you have requested, it may take a couple of days for us to complete the arrangements. After we have done so, we will send you a finalized confirmation email which will include an itinerary for your visit, a parking pass, and campus map. If we have questions regarding your request, we may need to contact you in order to complete arrangements. Please be sure to provide an accurate email address and daytime phone number. In order to ensure that you receive your campus visit confirmation email, please add the following address to your email contacts list or "safe senders" list: campus.visit@usiouxfalls.edu. If you haven't heard from us at least two days prior to your visit, please call the Admissions at 605-331-6600 or 800-888-1047.

If you need to cancel your visit for any reason, please call Admissions at 605-331-6600 or 800-888-1047. The Campus Visit Coordinator will help you cancel or reschedule your visit for another day.

When you visit USF during the week on an Individual Campus Visit you will get the opportunity to meet with an Admissions counselor to learn more about the University of Sioux Falls and the process of applying, take a tour of campus with one of our current students, and meet with financial aid to talk about scholarship and financial aid opportunities. In addition, you can request to meet with a professor in your area of study, talk with an athletic coach or fine arts director, and attend a class that would be required in your major here at USF. Individual Campus Visits typically last between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the number of appointments you request. Individual visits can be scheduled to begin at the following times: 9:00am, 10:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, or 2:00pm.

When you visit campus during one of our Campus Preview Days, you will get the opportunity to get a broad overview of what USF has to offer with a group of students just like yourself and their families, but still have the opportunity to speak with representatives from each department one-on-one if you desire. Campus Preview Days typically begin at 11:30 and last until 3:30pm. During this time, you'll be able to hear more about both the admissions and financial aid process, have lunch in our dining hall, and learn about opportunities in student life and campus ministries. You'll also get to find out more about the typical life of a USF student by asking current students questions during our student panel session and when you are out on your tour of campus. Finally, you'll end the day by meeting with a professor in your academic area of interest to learn more about the field of study you're considering.

Many students choose to visit campus several times when making a final decision. During February and March our Accepted Student Days focus on information for admitted students, summer registration days, housing, and "Welcome Week" activities.

We know the school year can be a very busy time - so students and their families are more than welcome to visit campus during the summer. We just ask that you keep in mind that most of our students return home for the summer and our faculty, coaches, and directors aren't as available for appointments. So although campus may not be as lively as it is during the school year, we welcome visitors and will do our best to get you the most amount of information from your areas of interest.

We welcome you to request to meet with a coach during your campus visit. At times we are unable to coordinate a coach visit because of coaching schedules or designated recruiting dead period within the NCAA Division II. If you are interested in participating in a collegiate sport, complete an athletic recruiting questionnaire as you visit http://www.usfcougars.com/.

We will make every attempt to schedule a visit with one of the instrumental, voice, or theatre directors to help you learn more about the opportunities available for future students within our fine arts programs. If you are interested in being considered for a fine arts scholarship in band, choir, or theatre, you will need to complete a fine arts questionnaire and schedule an audition time at some point during your senior year.

Tours usually last approximately one hour or a bit longer. Our tours are walking tours and you'll get a comprehensive look at campus, including academic buildings, classrooms, residence halls, recreational facilities, and other areas of interest to you.

Campus tours are led by University Ambassadors who are current students with a variety of backgrounds and interests. They will show you around campus, tell you about their own USF experiences, and answer questions about student life.

Our campus tour is a walking tour outdoors, so you will want to wear comfortable shoes want to dress appropriately for the weather. When you come for a tour we will give you a folder with information about USF. Please feel free to bring a copy of your high school or college transcript if you are applying for admissions and would like to bring the most recent version of your transcript we can accept sealed, official documents.

From Interstate 29:

• Exit east on 41st Street.
• Take 41st Street to Western Avenue (about 1.5 miles).
• Turn left on Western and drive north to 26th Street (1 mile).
• Turn right on 26th and drive east to Menlo Avenue (about .5 miles). Turn left on Menlo.
• The visitor lot will be two blocks on the right. Follow the signs for the admissions office and park in the spaces designated with blue visitor parking signs.

From Interstate 229:

• Exit north on Minnesota Avenue
• Take Minnesota Avenue to 26th Street (1.2 miles).
• Turn left on 26th and drive west (seven blocks) to Meno Avenue.
• Turn right on Menlo.
• The visitor lot will be two blocks on the right. Follow the signs for the admissions office and park in the spaces designated with blue visitor parking signs.

The University of Sioux Falls is a residential campus with a residential student requirement to live on campus for their first two years. Staying overnight is a good way to experience campus life. Please plan to check into the Admissions Office by 5:30 where your overnight host will welcome you, take you to dinner, to any meetings or residence hall activities that he or she may have scheduled for that night. Consider bringing a sleeping bag, pillow, toiletries, and bath towel. Overnight visits are reserved for senior high school students only. Overnight visits are offered on weeknights between October 1 - May 1. We will not be able to accommodate requests during holiday breaks or before campus preview days or final exam weeks.

Students with an ACT math sub-score of at least 19 or an SAT math score of at least 480 are not required to take a math placement exam and can enroll directly into any of the math core courses, including MAT112, MAT113, MAT233 and MAT151. Students not meeting this requirement will have an option of taking a math placement exam. A passing grade on the exam permits enrollment in the core math courses. Students who decide not to take the placement exam or who do not pass the placement exam will need to take MAT111 (Elementary Algebra) as their first math course. If you would like to take the placement exam, your academic advisor will provide you with more information, or you can contact USF’s Thomas Killian Academic Success Center for placement test options.

Designed to introduce you to college life and help you succeed, this course is required of all first-year students. Many students report that they are both nervous and excited as they launch their college career, especially because they know it will be different than high school. As USF stretches your intellect, you will find a rich support system to help you learn, develop and succeed. That's what SDV 100 is all about. These discussion groups meet during the first eight weeks of the semester and help you make friends, identify your strengths, think critically, confirm your career goals and better understand the mission of a Christian liberal arts university.

Your first year in college is a fresh start. This course is designed to help you jumpstart your college career by discovering and developing effective learning strategies. Whether it is increasing your testing-taking abilities or managing your time, the assignments and discussions will equip you with the skills needed for success in college and life. Students who are admitted provisionally are required to complete this course, but it is open to anyone who would like to succeed.

A New Student Registration (NSR) Day is offered on campus for students in January. Spring NSR Day starts in the McDonald Center, and you are welcome to park anywhere on campus. NSR Day starts in the early afternoon and ends around 4:00 p.m. The day is designed for you to learn more about Student Accounts, Financial Aid and living on campus. There is also time for you to ask questions, log into your USF email account, tour campus, confirm your housing options, and even buy Cougar Gear at Cougar Central (the campus store). You will also have an academic advising session to review your class schedule.

Send your transcripts of AP, IB or CLEP tests; the PSEO program; or college courses you took through your high school to the Admissions Office to complete your enrollment file. If scores and transcripts are not yet available, please bring with you a listing of the courses/tests. In addition, bring immunization records if not previously submitted and any outstanding Financial Aid paperwork.

New Student Registration is when you meet individually with an academic advisor to discuss your class schedule, take your Student ID photo, finalize housing and complete any outstanding Financial Aid information. New Student Orientation begins just before the fall semester. This is your time to move into your residence hall, and pick up your Student ID card and Parking Pass. Freshmen and transfer students are required to attend both New Student Registration and New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation begins with Move-In Day on Saturday, August 26. You may begin moving into your residence hall at 9 a.m. Individual check-in times are based on last name and can be found at www.usiouxfalls.edu/orientation. New Student Orientation begins at 2:00 p.m.

During Move-In Day, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Campus Security (to pick up your parking pass and Student ID) and Registrar's Office will be open. On weekdays, offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

New Student Orientation is REQUIRED of all new students (incoming freshmen and transfer students). It is designed to prepare you for your first year at USF. During the week of New Student Orientation, that begins with Move-in Day, you will:

• Move into your residence hall.
• Meet with faculty members from your academic area.
• Get to know your classmates.
• Attend helpful sessions about campus life, programs and services.
• Pick up your parking permit.
• Get your Student ID (take photo if needed).
• Make changes to your class schedule.
• HAVE FUN!