Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Bradenton, Florida
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
3.1Avg GPA
$28,277Annual Cost
$40,318Grad Salary
36.1%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
3.1
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$21,433
Need-Based Aid
36.1% receive Pell
State College of Florida serves the Sarasota-Bradenton region. Founded in 1957, SCF features the Lakewood Ranch Campus.
The college excels in nursing and digital media programs. SCF's 'Honors Program' offers enhanced academic opportunities.
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota Acceptance Rate
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.10 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.90 – 3.09
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.65
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
SCF GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at SCF is 3.1. Admission is competitive, but not extremely selective.
A mix of A's and B's is acceptable, and taking AP/IB courses helps.
Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.30-3.50 for this same academic profile.If your GPA is between 2.80 and 3.1, you should aim for a high SAT or ACT score.
SCF GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Admissions at SCF utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3.1, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.10 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.90 – 3.09
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.70 – 2.89
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.69
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics
- Open admission overall with no GPA or test-score requirement for general acceptance; rolling admissions, application opens in October for the following fall.
- FL public high school grads (9th and 12th grade attendance, Standard Diploma) are exempt from placement testing entirely.
- AS Nursing Traditional is a separate $35 limited-enrollment application; TEAS 7 required of all applicants regardless of education level, with differing retest limits by score threshold (3 attempts for 58.7%, 2 attempts for the higher 65% Total+Science tier).
- Signature programs include a Dedicated Education Unit at Manatee Memorial Hospital (consistent clinical placement leading to employment opportunities), Gator Engineering, Weekend College, and SCF Honors.
- Freshman Transition Program lets accepted fall students begin Summer coursework early if admissions steps are completed ahead of schedule.
- The Rigor Metric: At SCF, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
- The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.
Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at SCF
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into SCF Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SCF
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
SCF provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
Check whether you qualify for the PERT placement exemption before assuming you need to test
If you attended a Florida public high school for both 9th and 12th grade and will graduate (or graduated) with a Standard Diploma, SCF places you directly into college-level Math and English with no test scores required at all. If you don't meet that specific two-endpoint residency pattern - including students who transferred into a Florida public school mid-way or attended private/out-of-state school - you'll need SAT/ACT scores from within the last two years or must sit for the PERT. Confirm your eligibility category before assuming either path applies to you.
Apply in October and finish by April to align with SCF's real (if informal) rhythm
SCF has no hard application deadline and is rolling, but the Fall application opens in October and the college recommends completing the full admissions process by April for fall registration, which opens for the full semester April?August. Completing early also opens the door to the Freshman Transition Program, letting accepted fall students start taking Summer classes ahead of their official first semester - a real head start that late applicants miss by default, not by exclusion.
Match your TEAS retest strategy to the score threshold you're actually targeting
SCF's nursing TEAS rules split by score tier: applicants aiming for the 58.7% TEAS Total threshold get three attempts within a calendar year with a mandatory 30-day wait between attempts, but applicants needing the higher 65% Total-and-Science threshold get only two attempts. Know which threshold your target ranking realistically requires before you burn an attempt - chasing 65% with only two tries demands more prep upfront than the more forgiving 58.7% track.
Treat your SCF student email as the only nursing-application channel that exists
Once you submit the nursing application, all conditional acceptance, denial, or additional-document requests are sent exclusively to your SCF student email - explicitly with no exceptions for students who didn't check it. Set up email forwarding or a calendar reminder to check this account multiple times a week during application review periods; missing one message can cost a seat even after clearing every TEAS and GPA threshold.
Expert Insight:
The recurring SCF mistake is treating the AS Nursing Traditional program like the college's general open admission. It's a separate, $35 non-refundable limited-enrollment application with its own ranking formula - a combination of completed ASN gen-ed courses, TEAS score, prerequisite-only GPA (averaging just 4 courses, not your full transcript), and overall program GPA. Completing your prerequisites does not guarantee a seat if more qualified applicants apply than there are spots.
SCF Profile
Full Name
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota (SCF)
City
Bradenton
State
Florida
ZIP Code
34207
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a SCF Degree Worth It?
Getting into SCF can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. SCF offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at SCF is $54,700 and the graduate unemployment rate is 2.16%.
How much does a degree from SCF Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota is $28,277. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota is $21,433.
36.1% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 9.3 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to SCF and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist SCF as your choice in the form.
How much does a SCF Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $40,318. An average SCF graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at SCF
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota →
Frequently Asked Questions About SCF Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $40,318 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $28,277 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
36.1% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
The average GPA of admitted students is 3.1. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.
While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 2.8, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 2.8, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.
If your GPA is 2.7 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.
While the average GPA of admitted students is 3.1, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.