Navigating USF Tuition Deferment Options: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of South Florida (USF) offers various tuition deferment options to assist students in managing their financial obligations. These options cater to diverse circumstances, including general enrollment deferrals, veteran status, and specific student populations. This article provides a detailed overview of these deferment programs, eligibility requirements, and application processes.

General Enrollment Deferment

USF understands that students may need to postpone their enrollment for various reasons. The university allows undergraduate students in all majors except nursing to request a deferral of their admission.

Eligibility and Conditions:

Eligible Students: Undergraduate students in all majors except nursing can apply.
Deferral Period: Students can defer for one term (fall or spring). An extension for one additional fall or spring term is possible.
Maximum Deferral: The maximum deferral period is two terms (one full year). No further extensions are granted beyond this period.

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Deadline: The deadline to request a deferral for fall 2025 admission is August 1, 2025.
Financial Implications:
- A non-refundable $750 enrollment deposit is required upon approval of the deferral request by August 1.
- An additional non-refundable $750 deposit is due by November 1 for spring deferrals and February 1 for fall deferrals.
Merit Scholarships: USF merit scholarships awarded in the original admission letter will carry over to the term the student begins their studies.
Financial Aid: A new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or California Dream Act application must be submitted for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Coursework During Deferral: USF encourages students to take equivalent classes at a local university or community college, choosing from Core Curriculum classes C, D, E, or F.

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How to Request a Deferral:

To request a deferral, students must submit the deferral request form.

Tuition Deferment for Veterans

USF is committed to supporting veterans, eligible dependents, members of the selected reserve, and active-duty personnel eligible for educational benefits under applicable public laws. The university offers a tuition deferment program specifically for veterans due to potential delays in VA payments.

Eligibility and Benefits:

Purpose: This deferment provides an extra 90 days past the start of the semester for the student and the VA to cover tuition and fees.
HB 7015-Florida GI Bill: This bill, created the “Congressman C.W. Bill Young Veteran Tuition Waiver Program”, allows a waiver of out-of-state fees for:
- Honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard who physically reside in Florida.
- Active duty military personnel stationed outside of the state while enrolled at an institution in the State University System of Florida.
- Persons entitled to and using educational assistance provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who physically reside in Florida while enrolled at the University.
Tuition and Fees: Tuition and fees charged to a veteran or person who qualifies for the out-of-state fee waiver under this section may not exceed the tuition and fees charged to a resident student enrolled in the same program.

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VA Educational Benefits:

Full-Time Enrollment: To be eligible for full-time VA benefits at USF, undergraduate students must enroll for 12 or more semester hours, and graduate students must enroll for 9 or more semester hours each normal academic term. Summer term enrollment requirements differ.
Eligibility Determination: The Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility based on official service records, evidence submitted by the student, and applicable laws.
Change of Program: Students with established VA program eligibility at another college or university must submit a Change of Program or Place of Training and a USF enrollment verification request to the Office of Veteran Success.
Attendance Verification: Chapter 30, 1606, and 1607 program participants must verify attendance each month to the federal VA.
Academic Progress: Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher. Failure to do so may result in termination of educational benefits and notification to the DVA.

How to Apply for Veteran Benefits:

Once admitted, peer counselors will guide student veterans through the process of requesting Veterans Educational Benefits through the online Clockworks system.

Other Tuition Waiver and Exemption Programs

USF provides additional tuition waivers and exemptions for specific student populations:

Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Tuition Exemption: Established by Section 402.403, Florida Statutes, this program recruits and retains high-performing individuals employed as child protection and child welfare personnel.
Tuition Exemption for Students in Custody: A student who is or was at the time he or she reached 18 years of age in the custody of the Department of Children and Families or who, after spending at least 6 months in the custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was placed in a guardianship by the court, or a student who is or was at the time he or she reached 18 years of age in the custody of a relative or nonrelative under s. 4202 E.
Homeless Students: A student who is homeless may be exempt from paying tuition and fees.
Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver: Florida residents who are 60 years of age or older as of registration day, and have lived in Florida for the last 12 consecutive months, may enroll on a space-available basis in certain undergraduate and graduate courses without paying fees. The Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver covers a maximum of 12 credit hours per term and is applicable only if the student registers for these courses on the designated registration day. Academic credit is not awarded, examinations are not required, and grades are not assigned. The student’s status for that class is an audit. Senior Citizen registration requests are processed on the sixth day of the term.

General Payment Information and Policies

Understanding USF's general payment policies is crucial for all students:

Tuition Due Date: Tuition is due by the fifth day of each term. Failure to pay may result in cancellation of the student’s registration.
Late Payment Fee: A $100 late payment fee is assessed if tuition fees are not paid by the fifth day of the term. Students who successfully petition for reinstatement from financial cancellation due to non-payment will be assessed both a $100 late registration fee and a $100 late payment fee.
Delinquent Accounts: Charges against students for loss or breakage of University equipment, books, fines, and other charges are due immediately. Delinquent accounts may be considered sufficient cause for cancellation of registration. The university prohibits registration and the release of diplomas for any student whose account is delinquent. Delinquent accounts may be turned over to a collection agency, and all collection fees, including legal fees, will be added to the student account balance.
Payment Methods: The primary form of payment is online through Student Self-Service via the myUSF portal, using an eCheck or credit card.
Third Party Billing: If a bill is to be paid by an outside agency, the scholarship agency should notify the University in advance by letter stating the amount and length of time of the award and whom to bill for tuition.
Payment Options: Tuition and fees may be partially or completely paid by Financial Aid, Florida Prepaid, tuition waivers, or departmental grants.
Florida Prepaid: The University of South Florida downloads a file from Florida Prepaid and automatically bills for all Florida Prepaid College students with tuition plans that are enrolled for Fall, Spring, and/or Summer terms. Dorm plans are billed for students with dorm charges for Fall and Spring terms only. Payment is limited to the maximum amount allowed of the student’s available prepaid plan balance.

Additional Fees and Surcharges

Students should be aware of potential additional fees and surcharges:

Activity and Service Fee, Health Fee, and Athletic Fee: The levels of these fees are determined on each campus by a student fee committee appointed by the President of the University and the Student Government President, including USF faculty and students with the majority of the committee being students.
Excess Credit Hour Surcharge: The Excess Credit Hour Surcharge is a state-mandated fee that requires universities to add a surcharge to each credit hour that is more than 120% of hours needed for completion of your degree or 144 hours for 120 credit hour degree programs for First Time in College Students beginning in Fall 2019 or after. Effective Fall 2019, USF will calculate an excess hour threshold for each student based on the number of credit hours required for the degree. The surcharge is assessed only on the tuition portion of the semester hour cost, not on the fees.
Repeat Course Surcharge: A student enrolled in the same undergraduate college-credit course more than twice shall pay tuition at 100 percent of the full cost of instruction and shall not be included in calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes. However, students who withdraw or fail a class due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an exception only once for each class, provided that approval is granted according to policy established by the Florida College System institution board of trustees or the university board of trustees. The university may grant exceptions to this rule based on extenuating circumstances and financial hardship. Extenuating circumstances are those circumstances determined by the university to be exceptional and beyond the control of the student and may include but not be limited to serious illness, death of an immediate family member, orders for active duty, or university error. For consideration, the student must fill out a Repeat Course Surcharge Waiver and provide supporting documentation.

Waivers and Appeals

USF may approve waivers for certain fees under specific circumstances:

Late Payment Fee Waiver: USF will approve a waiver of the Late Payment fee if the student is unable to make payment on time due to circumstances determined by the university to be exceptional and beyond the control of the student. These circumstances include university error or extraordinary events such as severe illness, death of an immediate family member, or a call to active duty.

Auditing Courses

Only an admitted student may register to audit a course; as an auditor, the student is not allowed to take exams, earn grades, or receive credit. The student’s status for that class is an audit. The student’s presence in the classroom is as a listener, which means an instructor may limit auditing student’s participation in class, including class projects and other interactive, graded or ungraded activities. A date-stamped permit from the college/department where the course is being offered must accompany a Course Audit Form to the Office of the Registrar.

Additional Resources

Office of Student Accounting Services: This office maintains accurate financial records and communicates with students concerning their accounts.
Office of Veteran Success: This office assists veterans with their educational benefits and provides confirmation of student status for VA health care or other benefits.
Student Support Services (SSS): Upon acceptance into SSS, students will be assigned a counselor to guide them through their academic journey.

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