Lower Division Transfers

UF Online attracts students at various points of their academic journey.

UF Online offers a robust academic experience for those joining the Gator Nation online. Your applicant type is based off the number of transferable college credits you will have earned prior to your intended first term in our program.

UF Online welcomes applicants who have started their college education but have not completed their degree. Prospective students who have earned 12-59 college credits after high school graduation are lower division transfer applicants. Learn more about the lower division transfer admissions requirements and application process below.


Minimum Admission Requirements for Lower Division Transfer

The University of Florida seeks diverse students who will be UF’s future community of leaders, learners, and thinkers. Lower division transfer applicants are reviewed and admitted based on a comprehensive set of academic and non-academic factors.

  • Graduation from a secondary school or the equivalent (G.E.D., etc.) recognized by UF. Additional information for Homeschooled and International students can be found here:
  •   Homeschool students
      International students

  • Fourteen academic units, distributed as follows:
  •   English (with substantial writing): 4 years
      Mathematics (at or above Algebra 1 level): 4 years
      Natural Sciences (2 units must include laboratory): 3 years
      Social Sciences: 3 years

  • It is preferable that students have two years of foreign language instruction or be able to document an equivalent level of proficiency. However, students may be admitted to UF Online before completing this requirement, but such students must successfully complete an 8-10 hour sequence of a foreign language prior to graduation.
  • The state of Florida requires that all lower division transfer applicants have at least a 2.5 (C) academic cumulative GPA from high school. As a Top 10 public university, UF’s standards are higher than the state minimums.
  • As a lower division transfer applicant, your high school GPA will still be evaluated, but we will also evaluate your college coursework. Competitive lower division transfer applicants to UF Online typically have a 3.0 GPA or higher at the college level. The more college credits earned, the less your high school GPA is weighted in the review process.
  • If you have less than a 2.0 GPA in all college coursework, or less than a 2.0 GPA from the last college you attended, unfortunately you are not eligible for admission to the University of Florida at this time.
  • Lower division transfer applicants who graduated high school 5 years ago or more do not need to submit test scores as the requirement is waived.
  • Lower division transfer applicants who graduated high school less than 5 years ago will need to submit test scores to the university as part of the admissions process. The state minimum test scores are listed below; however, competitive UF Online applicants typically score above what is listed here.
  • Lower division transfer applicants must submit test scores from the SAT, ACT and/or CLT. UF has no test preference. We will superscore (take the highest scores for each subsection) to create the highest possible total score. If you take a test multiple times, we will combine your highest subsection scores across test dates for the same exam.
    • SAT or Digital SAT (March 1, 2016 and after)
    •   Reading and Writing = 490
        Mathematics = 480

    • ACT (1-36 range):
    •   Reading = 19
        English = 17
        Mathematics = 19

    • CLT, Classic Learning Test
    •   Sum of the Verbal Reasoning and Grammar/Writing Sections = 38
        Quantitative Reasoning Section = 16
  • It is strongly recommended that lower division transfer applicants have a transferable college math and English course prior to applying to UF Online.
  • In addition, lower division transfer applicants with 30 or more transferable college credits should have completed some of the prerequisite courses for their major of interest prior to their first intended term of enrollment in UF Online. The closer a student is to earning 60 credits, the more prerequisites are expected for admission as a lower division applicant. A list of prerequisite courses can be found on each degree page.

Tips for submitting a Lower Division Transfer application


Application Process for Lower Division Transfer

The application process is simple and straightforward. It will take about 30 minutes to complete your application. If you need to take a break for any reason, you can save it and return to complete the application later. For ease of completion, be sure to have your high school transcripts and previous college information available.

Step 1

Complete the application -- this includes an essay and résumé section.

  • Once you complete all sections of the application, you’ll submit the non-refundable $30 application fee online. Your application and fee must be submitted before the application deadline for the term to which you are applying.

Tip: Your UF Online application (and application fee) is valid for up to one entire academic year. If you apply for one term and your timeline changes, we can easily roll your application to a future term.

Step 2

Arrange to have all supplemental materials sent to UF. For a lower division transfer applicant that includes:

  • Official high school transcripts from all schools attended.
  • Official college transcripts from all schools attended.
  • For applicants who graduated from high school less than five years ago, official SAT, ACT, or CLT scores must be sent directly to UF from the testing service.
  • If applicable, scores or transcripts from any other college level work such as Advanced Placement (AP) tests, CLEP tests, IB, AICE, etc.

For electronic delivery of materials:

  • Contact your school or testing agency to see if they can send your official documents electronically. This is the fastest delivery method. We accept electronic transcripts from Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Credential Solutions, and Escrip-safe. Please note that emailed or faxed documents are not considered official. You should select the University of Florida as the recipient during the ordering process. When you order these documents, save any records you receive for future reference.

If you cannot send electronic transcripts or test scores, send physical copies to:

University of Florida Office of Admissions
201 Criser Hall
PO Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000

All required materials must be received in our office no later than the File Completion Deadline.


Download the PDF Checklist for Lower Division Transfer applicants.

Admissions decisions are rendered on a rolling basis, so the sooner you complete your file, the sooner you will get your admissions decision. However, we always prioritize the upcoming term over future terms.

You will receive an email with instructions for creating a login to check your application status within 24-48 hours of submitting your UF Online application. Once you have these login credentials, you can check your application status page at any time for real-time updates on your admissions file. As documents arrive in our office, your application status page will reflect which documents were received and when they were processed. Your application status page will be updated if additional information is required.

You are notified via email when a decision is rendered.


Your Future Starts Today – Apply Now!


Not a lower division transfer applicant? Let’s get you to right spot.

  • If you have 0-11 transferable college credits, you are a Freshman applicant.
  • If you have 60 or more transferable credits, this includes Associate of Arts (AA) degree holders, you are an Upper Division Transfer applicant.
  • If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you are Second Bachelor’s degree seeking applicant.
  • If you were previously enrolled in a degree seeking program at the University of Florida, you are a Readmission applicant.

Learn how to determine what type of applicant you are