Louisiana TOPS Program

The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) provides Louisiana high school graduates meeting specific eligibility requirements with a scholarship if they choose to attend a Louisiana public college or university.

This scholarship is available through the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA).

Initial Eligibility

Each year, the LOSFA office evaluates the records of all Louisiana high school graduates, whose parents are also Louisiana residents. Eligibility is determined through high school transcripts and student ACT scores. LOSFA notifies high school graduates of their eligibility during the summer following their high school graduation.

To apply for TOPS, high school graduates need to complete the FAFSA. The following TOPS awards are accepted here at UL Lafayette:

Award	Initial Eligibility Requirements	Award Per Semester
TOPS Opportunity	ACT Score of 20 GPA 2.50 (TOPS Core Curriculum)	$2,703.48
TOPS Performance	ACT Score of 23 GPA 3.25 (TOPS Core Curriculum)	$2,903.48
TOPS Honors	ACT Score of 27 GPA 3.50 (TOPS Core Curriculum)	$3,103.48

Continued Eligibility

The Financial Aid Office recommends all students receiving TOPS renew their FAFSA every year.

Students must be enrolled for full-time hours on the 15th day of class to receive payment for TOPS for that semester. You can be paid if you are less than full-time under special circumstances. You should check with a financial aid counselor before assuming you will be paid for less than full-time enrollment.

Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of each fall, intersession, or summer semester.

Award	Academic Year¹	Grade Point Average²
TOPS Opportunity	Earn at least 24 Credit Hours for the Academic Year	Minimum 2.30 GPA at the end of the first Academic Year; Minimum 2.50 GPA at the end of all other Academic Years
TOPS Performance	Earn at least 24 Credit Hours for the Academic Year	Minimum 3.0 GPA at the end of each Academic Year
TOPS Honors	Earn at least 24 Credit Hours for the Academic Year	Minimum 3.0 GPA at the end of each Academic Year

^{¹ Academic Year includes the following semesters: Fall, Winter Intersession, Spring, Spring Intersession, and Summer.}
^{² GPAs are checked at the end of each Spring semester.}

National Guard Eligibility for TOPS

Students eligible for both institutional National Guard (NG) tuition waivers and TOPS awards must accept the institutional National Guard tuition waiver¹. If you are eligible for National Guard, you will receive a reduced TOPS award.

Award	Initial Eligibility Requirements	Award Per Semester
TOPS National Guard	ACT Score of 20 GPA 2.50 (TOPS Core Curriculum)	National Guard Tuition Waiver $300 TOPS NG Award
TOPS National Guard Performance	ACT Score of 23 GPA 3.25 (TOPS Core Curriculum)	National Guard Tuition Waiver $300 TOPS NG Award $400 Performance Stipend
TOPS National Guard Honors	ACT Score of 27 GPA 3.50 (TOPS Core Curriculum)	National Guard Tuition Waiver $300 TOPS NG Award $800 Honors Stipend

^{¹ Louisiana’s Revised Statute 17:5002 and RS 29:36.1 - Louisiana National Guard students cannot receive the tuition exemption waiver and the standard rate of TOPS Opportunity/Performance/Honors awards.}

^{TOPS for Home Study Students}

To review information about TOPS for homeschooled/home study students, visit the LOSFA website.