Understanding LSU Tuition and TOPS Requirements

The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) is a comprehensive program of state scholarships designed to provide Louisiana high school graduates who meet specific eligibility requirements with financial assistance to attend Louisiana public colleges or universities. Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) administers the TOPS program, which includes four award levels, each with its own selection criteria and retention requirements.

TOPS Award Levels and Amounts

TOPS offers multiple award levels to students, including the TOPS Opportunity, TOPS Performance, TOPS Honors, and TOPS Excellence awards. The amount awarded varies based on the award level and the institution the student attends.

TOPS Performance Award: This award pays the TOPS Award Amount, which is based on the cost of tuition set by the administering agency for a student at that particular institution for the 2016-2017 academic year unless increased by an Act of the Legislature, plus an annual stipend of $400.
LAICU Award Amount: If a student attends a college within the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (LAICU), the award amount will be the weighted average award amount, which is calculated by dividing the amount paid to all students who were enrolled at a public four-year institution during the 2016-2017 academic year by the number of students paid, plus an annual stipend of $400.
LA National Guard Award Amount: Students serving in the Louisiana National Guard receive a tuition exemption as mandated by Louisiana state law. Those eligible for the Performance Award also receive $300 per semester ($600 per academic year) for books and instructional materials, and an additional $400 per semester ($800 per academic year) for other educational expenses.

Initial Eligibility Requirements for TOPS

To qualify for TOPS, students must meet several academic and residency requirements.

High School: The student must attend a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) APPROVED HIGH SCHOOL. All Louisiana public schools are approved. If the student attends a non-public school, it must be approved by BESE.
Home Study: If the student is enrolled in Home Study through the Louisiana Department of Education, specific TOPS home study requirements must be met.
GPA: A minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA of 3.25 (GPA computed on TOPS core courses only) beginning with the graduating class of 2022.
Core Units: Completion of the 19.0 Core Units of the TOPS Core Curriculum.
ACT/SAT Score: A minimum ACT score (or SAT Equivalent) of 23 is required. Note that TOPS does not accept an ACT Superscore. For BESE-Approved Home Study Eligibility, an ACT/SAT Score of 24 is required (1 point above standard in lieu of core units and GPA). Louisiana Residents graduating from an eligible out-of-state high school require an ACT/SAT Score of 26 (3 points above standard in lieu of core units and GPA).
Enrollment: Must enroll full time as a first-time freshman by the first semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation.
Citizenship/Residency: Must be a US citizen or permanent resident and meet TOPS Louisiana Residency requirements.

TOPS Excellence Award

House Bill 77 created the TOPS Excellence award, which is available to any student with a 3.5-grade point average and a score of 31 or higher on the ACT or an equivalent score on a similar exam. Instituting just the new TOPS Excellence award level will increase state spending $3 million in the first year, assuming 844 qualified students. Turner’s bill also allows students to qualify for any TOPS award level by taking the conservative-backed Classical Learning Test, which evaluates students on math, writing, and grammar with an emphasis on classic literature and historic documents.

Award Amounts at UL Lafayette

The following TOPS awards are accepted at UL Lafayette:

TOPS Opportunity: 20 ACT or 1030 SAT score; GPA 2.50 (TOPS Core Curriculum); Award Per Semester: $2,703.48
TOPS Performance: 23 ACT or 1130 SAT score; GPA 3.25 (TOPS Core Curriculum); Award Per Semester: $2,903.48
TOPS Honors: 27 ACT or 1260 SAT score; GPA 3.50 (TOPS Core Curriculum); Award Per Semester: $3,103.48
TOPS Excellence: 31 ACT or 1360 SAT score; GPA 3.50 (TOPS Core Curriculum); Award Per Semester: $5,573

Renewal Requirements for TOPS

To maintain TOPS eligibility, students must meet specific renewal requirements each year.

GPA: A minimum 3.00 GPA at the end of all Academic Years. If the Cumulative GPA is less than 3.00 but 2.30 or greater with 24 - 47 hours, the award will be continued as the Opportunity Award (no Stipend). If less than 3.00 but 2.50 or greater with 48 and greater hours, the award will be continued as the Opportunity Award (no Stipend).
Academic Progress: Maintain Steady Academic Progress at the end of all other semesters/terms (2.00 Cumulative GPA). If the Cumulative GPA is less than 2.30 with 24 - 47 hours or less than 2.50 with 48 or greater hours, the award will be suspended but will be reinstated if the appropriate GPA is regained within 24 months.
Enrollment: Students must be enrolled full-time as of the 15th class day at a semester institution or as of the 10th class day at a quarter institution and maintain continuous enrollment. Failure to enroll full time, maintain continuous enrollment, or earn 24 hours results in cancellation of the award, and it cannot be reinstated without an Approved Request for Exception to Initial, Continuous Full-Time Enrollment, and/or 24 Hour Requirement.
Credit Hours: Earn at least 24 Credit Hours for the Academic Year (the TOPS Academic Year begins with the fall term of the award year and concludes immediately before the next fall term commences. All intersessions and summer sessions are included). Hours earned during the Intersession between Fall and Spring Semesters will be counted toward meeting the 24 Hours Annual Requirement but not toward Full-Time Enrollment.

Additional Information and Considerations

Applying for TOPS

To apply for TOPS, high school graduates need to complete the FAFSA application or the LOSFA application by July 1 each year. The Financial Aid Office recommends that all students receiving TOPS renew their FAFSA every year.

Transfer Degree Guarantee (TDG)

The Transfer Degree Guarantee helps students to easily transfer from a 2-year or community college to a 4-year university in the state of Louisiana.

TOPS and Other Financial Aid

Students who are receiving other forms of financial aid must submit the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA each year to continue receiving aid.

Proportional Billing Due to Reduced Enrollment

Students enrolled in under 12 credit hours are eligible to receive a reduced, or prorated, award amount for the applicable term. Students with proper documentation will be billed as eligible part-time, EP, academic standing for that term.

Read also: Affording ECU

Exceptions to Requirements

Exceptions to the requirements to enroll full-time or to remain continuously enrolled or to earn 24 hours of credit each Academic Year may be granted by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) for extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Students seeking an exception to these requirements must submit a request for exception form and provide all necessary documentation.

If a student is graduating during a specified semester and has less than 12 hours remaining to graduate, then that student must get a memo from his/her advisor or department chair/dean. This memo must state the student’s name, ID#, intended graduation semester, and the # of hours the student must take during the specified semester to complete degree program requirements. The student will also need to provide a signed degree plan.

TOPS Tech Award

The TOPS Tech Award pays for tuition for technical skilled or occupational training that does not offer a baccalaureate degree. TOPS Tech recipients must be seeking a major that complies with the requirements set forth by LOSFA.

Opt Out

Opt-out is only available when there is a TOPS budget shortfall and should be used when a student chooses not to accept his TOPS Award due to a budget shortfall. Opt-Out is not a replacement for the Request for Exception process. A student should use the Request for Exception process when circumstances beyond his control prevent him from attending school, require him to go to school on a part-time basis, or cause him to earn less than 24 hours during an academic year.

Louisiana Go Grant

The number of students awarded varies each academic year due to limited funding for the Louisiana Go Grant. All eligible students will not receive this grant, students are awarded in priority of the packaging policy listed below.

Read also: Withdrawals for College: A Guide

Residency

Louisiana resident as of the day the FAFSA is filed, and Louisiana is the student's actual and fixed domicile as reported on the FAFSA.

Maximum Award

The maximum annual award is $5,000. Scholarship awards shall be applicable only to the cost of tuition, required fees, and textbooks and instructional materials required for the course of study.

Other Scholarship Programs

Geaux Teach Scholarship: A state-funded initiative designed to encourage and support Louisiana residents pursuing a career in education.
Louisiana National Guard Patriot Scholarship: Covers mandatory fees not included in the National Guard Tuition Exemption Program.
BESE Tuition Program for Teachers: Covers tuition costs for selected teachers at Louisiana colleges through a competitive selection process.

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