Freshmen

Semester of Entry	Priority Deadline
Fall (August)	July 15
Spring (January)	December 1
Summer (June)	May 1

The application fee is $35 for online applications and $45 for paper applications.

If you prefer to mail in your application, print out the application form, fill it out and mail it to:

USA Office of Admissions
2500 Meisler Hall
390 Student Center Circle
Mobile, AL 36688-0002

USA will be offering spring, summer, and fall 2024 applicants a test-optional path for admission to USA. Students with high school GPA's with a 3.4 or better will be automatically admitted to South. Students with GPA's below a 3.4 will enter a review process for admission. These students could be asked to supply additional materials. Students who choose the test optional track will also be eligible for scholarships. Scholarships for test-optional students will be awarded based on strength of curriculum, grades, and a variety of other factors.

We recommend that students with ACT 21 or better and/or SAT 1060 or better submit their scores. We encourage students to connect with our Office of Admissions, admiss@smcun.com, to review their options.

Documents Required

• Official high school transcript reflecting a minimum 2.50 GPA
• Official ACT or SAT scores: a minimum ACT superscore of 19 OR a minimum SAT (critical reading + math only) score of 900 (if taken prior to March 2016) OR a minimum SAT (Evidence-based reading and writing + math only) score of 990 (if take March 2016 or after)
• These standards are general requirements. All students with strong academic records are encouraged to apply for admission.

Required Academic Core Courses:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of social science
• 3 years of Math- Must include Algebra I and two higher level math courses (for example: Algebra II, Algebra w/ Finance, Algebraic Connections, Geometry,
• Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Pre-Calculus, or other higher level math courses will be considered)
• 3 years of science (At least two of the sciences must include labs)
• 3 years of advanced electives (Courses chosen from any of the four core areas above and may include foreign language)

The Alabama High School Diploma with Advanced Endorsement meets all University of South Alabama core requirements. The Credit Based Diploma awarded by Alabama High Schools is accepted; however, students must meet all high school core requirements listed above.

Students will be permitted to enroll in mathematics classes at USA based on either a prerequisite course, their Math-ACT score, their Math-SAT score, or the Mathematics Placement test.  Mathematics placement can be found here. Students may also be required to take reading or English courses based upon their ACT-English, ACT-Reading or SAT-Critical Reading score. 

GED

GED First Time Freshmen applicants sat for the high school level General Education Development (GED) test and did not graduate from high school. Applicants must be at least 17 years of age.

• Required Official Documents: Official GED scores.
• Academic Requirements: Students taking the test prior to January 2014, must score an average of at least a 500 or a 50, if taken before January 2002. Students taking the GED beginning January 2014 must score at least a 170 in each subject area.

Special Freshmen

Special Freshmen applicants have graduated from high school five or more years ago or have reached the age of 23.

• Required Official Documents: Official high school transcript

USA will be offering spring, summer, and fall 2024 applicants a test-optional path for admission to USA. Students who take this route could be asked to supply additional materials, which include an essay and letter of recommendation.

Students who choose the test optional track will also be eligible for scholarships. Scholarships for test-optional students will be awarded based on strength of curriculum, grades, and a variety of other factors. Students are able to select test-optional on their applications. We do recommend that students with ACT 21 or better and/or SAT 1060 or better submit their scores for best scholarship consideration. 

 

Top Priority

• Activate your JagNet Student Account at smcun.com/services/jagnet.
• Login to your JagMail and PAWS (Personal Access Web System) accounts
  at smcun.com/logins.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for financial aid at fafsa.gov
  (FAFSA opens in December). Visit the USA One Stop Financial Resources
  page at smcun.com/onestop/resources.
• Apply for USA Housing at smcun.com/housing and pay deposit.
• Register for Southbound, your New Student Orientation, and pay the
  fee in your admissions portal. Visit smcun.com/orientation for more
  information.
  
  • Summer and Fall orientation registration opens in January.
  • Spring orientation registration opens in November.
• Submit immunization information and records through the Student Health Web
  Portal at http://5ohv.smcun.com/departments/studenthealth/immunization.html. Please contact the Student Health Center at 251-460-7151, if you need assistance.
• Request final official transcript(s) be submitted to South, if you have not yet
  done so. If applicable, also submit official test scores (i.e. ACT/SAT, IB/AP).
• Meet with your academic advisor to register for courses in PAWS. Your advisor
  will contact you for an appointment after you register for orientation. Some
  students may be required to take a placement test.
• Attend your scheduled orientation.
• After semester billing posts to your student account, pay tuition or set up a payment plan via PAWS. See smcun.com/onestop/resources for
  additional information.
• Order your textbooks and other materials for classes as required.

Priority

• Submit JagID photo to the Student Center’s Jag Card Office at
  smcun.com/departments/studentcenter/photosubmission. You will
  be notified via JagMail when you can pick up your JagID.
• Join the Admitted Student Facebook Group to start making connections and
  receive up-to-date information.
• Visit our campus or check out other opportunities at smcun.com/visit.
• Log in to JagSPOT at smcun.com/scholarships to:
  
  • Accept all scholarships offered in JagSPOT, if awarded.
  • Search and apply for additional USA scholarships in JagSPOT.
  • Complete your special programs application in JagSPOT, if you meet the
    requirements and desire consideration.
     « Early Acceptance Program smcun.com/earlyacceptance
     « Honors College - smcun.com/colleges/honors
• Complete Title IX training to ensure we are working together to keep our campus environment safe for everyone. You should receive an email to your JagMail
  and should email usauetraining@smcun.com if you need assistance.
• If you plan to have a vehicle or bicycle on campus, register with USA Parking
  Services at http://southalabama.t2hosted.com/Account/Portal.
• Review financial and academic deadlines on the academic calendar, smcun.com/academiccalendar

Strongly Encouraged

• If you’re interested in the Student & Scholar Health Insurance, be sure
  to review the health insurance plan information for details at southalabama.
  edu/studenthealth/insurance.html.
• If you need accommodations, please visit smcun.com/sds/ to learn more about Center for Educational Accessibility & Disability Resources.
• Complete the brief on-line alcohol prevention program, Alcohol eCHECKUP
  TO GO, at http://interwork.sdsu.edu/echeckup/usa/alc/coll/index.php?id=USA&hfs=true#main. Your responses will remain confidential.
• Complete the USA Sports Interest Survey, a tool that aids in sports planning and
  programming at http://southalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/
  SV_55UFcbjTrVwXutL.
• If you are interested in departmental programs (for example, Jaguar Marching
  Band), be sure to check the department’s website to learn about the requirements
  to join.
• Check out our student organizations and ways to get involved. Visit http://5ohv.smcun.com/departments/studentorganizations/.

Download PDF