TOPS Opportunity Award
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA)
Louisiana's base merit award: pays a set tuition amount each year (e.g. $7,462.98 at LSU Baton Rouge in 2026-27) at Louisiana colleges for students with a 2.50 TOPS core GPA and a qualifying ACT.
- How much
- TOPS Award Amount (2016-17 tuition level at your school); 2026-27 ranges from $2,380 to about $8,878 per year by school (e.g. $7,462.98 at LSU Baton Rouge; $5,718 at LAICU private colleges)
- Who qualifies
- 2.50 TOPS core-curriculum GPA; all 19 units of the TOPS core curriculum; ACT composite of at least the prior year's state average but never below 20 (or SAT/CLT equivalent); out-of-state high school graduates need an ACT/SAT/CLT 3 points higher (23) in lieu of core and GPA. Louisiana resident (TOPS residency rules), U.S. citizen or permanent resident; graduate from a BESE-approved Louisiana high school (or approved home study; out-of-state graduates qualify through higher test scores). Enroll full-time as a first-time freshman by the first semester after the first anniversary of high school graduation. ACT superscores are not accepted.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- When to apply
- Open now Full award: application (FAFSA or TOPS Online Application) must be received by July 1 (next business day if a weekend) after the one-year anniversary of your high school graduation - e.g. Class of 2027 by July 1, 2028. LOSFA's recommended FAFSA priority date is February 1 of your senior year. Later applications (through roughly the following fall) can still qualify for fewer semesters of funding.
- How to apply
- Apply by filing the FAFSA (recommended
- It also applies you for Pell, GO Grant and other aid) or, if you can show you don't qualify for federal grant aid, the TOPS Online Application on LOSFA's site (not both)
- Make sure your name, date of birth and address match your high school records and ACT/SAT/CLT exactly
- LOSFA begins eligibility processing in June and emails you
- Track status in your LOSFA Student Hub account
- Continuing students don't reapply - they just have to meet the renewal requirements
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + transcript + test scores
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (mylosfa.la.gov), page 2, page 3, page 4 and page 5
The details
The entry level of Louisiana's Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). Pays the 'TOPS Award Amount' - the 2016-17 tuition amount for that school unless raised by the Legislature. 2026-27 annual amounts from LOSFA's table: $2,380 (proprietary/cosmetology schools) to about $3,214 at community/technical colleges, about $4,236-$7,463 at four-year publics (LSU Baton Rouge $7,462.98; some LSU Health programs higher), and $5,718 at LAICU private colleges (weighted average). Louisiana National Guard members get the Guard tuition exemption plus a $600/yr ($300/semester) book stipend instead. Usable at Louisiana public colleges/universities, LCTCS schools, approved proprietary and cosmetology schools and LAICU private colleges, for up to eight semesters (remaining eligibility can also be used for some graduate/professional study). Renewal: 24 earned credit hours per academic year; 2.30 cumulative GPA at the end of the first academic year (24-47 hours) and 2.50 after that (48+ hours); 2.00 steady progress at other terms; full-time continuous enrollment. A suspended award can be reinstated if the GPA is regained within 24 months.
More money from Louisiana
- TOPS Excellence AwardTuition and fees or $12,000 per year, whichever is less (public); tuition and fees or $8,500, whichever is less (LAICU private)
- Louisiana Geaux Teach Scholarship ProgramUp to $5,000 per year
- Louisiana GO Grant$300 minimum to $3,000 maximum per year (set by your school)
- Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship$2,000 per year (undergraduate); $3,000 per year (graduate); $12,000 cumulative maximum
- M.J. Foster Promise Program$3,200 per award year ($1,600 per semester) full-time; up to $6,400 total (full $6,400 in one year for certain high-cost programs)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.