Louisiana TOPS Program

he Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) is a Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents, that strives to be Louisiana’s first choice for college access by promoting, preparing for and providing equity of college access. LOSFA administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs and the state’s Internal Revenue Code Section 529 college savings program. There are several programs administered by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) that are awarded at Southern University at Shreveport. These programs are outlined below.

Louisiana TOPS Program

Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarships are awarded by the State of Louisiana through the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) a program of the Board of Regents. TOPS provides graduating Louisiana high school seniors who have met certain academic requirements and have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by July 1^st with a scholarship if they choose to attend a Louisiana public college or university. TOPS is a merit-based scholarship program that will only fund the tuition portion of institutional charges for two (2) academic years. This scholarship does not cover the cost of books, supplies, and fees.

Students who are receiving other forms of financial aid must submit the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA each year to continue receiving aid. Students should check their renewal status by creating an account on the “Louisiana Award System” located on the LOSFA web site.

Applying for TOPS

Students are encouraged to apply by July 1^st.

• To apply for TOPS, you may complete ONE of the applications at this link.
• Students will receive an official award notice from LOSFA during late summer following high school graduation.
• You may monitor your TOPS eligibility by creating at Student Hub.

10 Ways to Ensure Timely Processing of Your TOPS Award Eligibility

This information has been provided by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOFSA).

1. Make sure that your name is the same on all documents (school records, ACT test registrations, FAFSA, college applications, etc.). Pick a name and stick with it. Spelling, spacing, punctuation and abbreviation matter!
2. Include the ACT TOPS code of 1595 and/or the SAT TOPS code of 9019 on all ACT/SAT test registrations.
3. List the same date of birth and home street address on all forms, documents, applications, etc.
4. If you are a public-school student, make certain that TOPS has a consent form signed by a parent allowing LOSFA to access your grade data.
5. Make sure that you are taking the correct required 19 units that comprise the TOPS Core Curriculum.
6. Be aware that your TOPS eligibility is based on your TOPS Core GPA, not your overall cumulative GPA and that TOPS does not round GPA’s.
7. Make sure that your FAFSA application is signed by both the student and a parent before submission and that the Email address on your FAFSA is the address to which you want your TOPS eligibility or ineligibility notices sent.
8. Make certain that your Social Security number is the same on both your high school transcript and the FAFSA.
9. Create a Louisiana Award System account after May 1 of your senior year to track initial TOPS eligibility and your continuation eligibility throughout your postsecondary education.
10. If you take a dual enrollment class using TOPS Tech Early Start, the name you use to register for the course is the name your Louisiana Award System account will be created under. Also, grades earned in dual enrollment courses for college credit become part of your cumulative college GPA.

TOPS Award Amounts (2023-2024)

*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 above listed requirements as set forth by LOSFA. The following academic programs of study at Southern University at Shreveport, Louisiana (SUSLA) meet those requirements:

• Accounting (AS)
• Business Management (AS)
• Computer Science (AS)
• Human Resources (AS)
• Nursing (ASN)

**Overaward: In the event the student’s total aid exceeds his financial need or the cost of attendance, any federal loan aid shall be reduced, then institutional and other aid in accordance with the institutional practice, then State Scholarships and Grants (including TOPS if applicable), shall be reduced by the amount of any remaining overaward.

***Proportional Billing due to Reduced Enrollment: Students enrolled 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. The proration formula is as follows:

Hours enrolled / 12 hours (full-time) = %

% x approved TOPS amount = eligible TOPS award

For instance, if a TOPS Opportunity student is enrolled in 9 credit hours for the term, the student will be eligible for $981.75, not $1309.00. The calculation is as follows,

9/12=.75 or 75%

.75 x $1309 = $981.75

Initial Eligibility

Each year, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) 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.

• Don’t Blow Your TOPS (Award Eligibility Guidelines – First Time Award Recipient)

Continued Eligibility

• 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 the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships before assuming you will be paid for less than full-time enrollment.
• Students must earn 24 credit hours each year (Fall//Spring) and maintain the required GPA for their TOPS Award.
• 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 (Available from LOSFA or on our Web site at www.osfa.la.gov/exceptionform) and provide all necessary documentation. If approved and all other continuation requirements are met, the award will be reinstated. Requests for exception must be received no later than six months after the date of the notice of cancellation.

NOTE:  REQUESTING AN EXCEPTION

An exception for cause to the requirement to enroll for the first time as a full-time student by the deadline, to enroll full-time each semester or term thereafter, to remain continuously enrolled and/or to earn 24 hours may be granted if, by the deadline specified in the letter notifying you of the cancelation of your award, you submit a Request for Exception form with the required supporting documentation sufficient to justify a failure to comply with these requirements. You can obtain the Request for Exception form with instructions and a list of the required documentation at www.osfa.la.gov, “Forms”, “Scholarship & Grant (TOPS) Forms” and then click “Download” for the “Request for Exception” form or you can call a Public Information Representative at 1-800-259-5626, ext. 1012, or locally at (225) 219-1012, or send an e-mail to custserv@osfa.la.gov. If your Request for Exception form is not received by the deadline, it will NOT be considered.

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

The following GPA’s will be checked at the end of each Spring semester:

• Don’t Blow Your TOPS (Award Eligibility Retention Guidelines – Continuing Award Recipient)

  TOPS Recipients with less than Full-time Enrollment

  TOPS requires a memo (per student) on letterhead from the student’s advisor or department chair/dean for the following conditions:

  1. 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 (on letter head) 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.
  2. If a student has two quarters remaining until graduation and only certain classes are offered each quarter and NO OTHER classes are required or available during each quarter, a memo is also required. The memo is to read similarly to the afore mentioned, however this memo must also state that no other classes are available or offered during said quarter to complete the degree program requirements.

  These memos must be specific as to which semester/academic year the student is going to graduate and that the classes being taken are all that remain to graduate.

  The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will then code the student as ELIGIBLE for PART-TIME, or EP, TOPS payment. The student will only be paid TOPS money at a prorated amount. The paid amount will not exceed the TOPS maximum payment for his/her level.

  If the student does not supply the required memo by the last day of DROP/ADD for that semester, he or she will not be paid TOPS as they will be considered ineligible at less than full-time enrollment.

  Please send all memos relating to TOPS to the attention of:

  Director of Financial Aid

  Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

  ***Proportional Billing due to Reduced Enrollment: Students enrolled 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. The proration formula is as follows:

  Hours enrolled / 12 hours (full-time) = %

  % x approved TOPS amount = eligible TOPS award

  For instance, if a TOPS Opportunity student is enrolled in 9 credit hours for the term, the student will be eligible for $981.75, not $1309.00. The calculation is as follows,

  9/12=.75 or 75%

  .75 x $1309 = $981.75

  TOPS Cancellation vs. Suspension

  When a TOPS award is suspended for GPA or Steady Academic Progress, students have an opportunity to have their award reinstated once they have re-attained the minimum required cumulative GPA provided the period of ineligibility does not exceed two years (one year for the TOPS-Tech Award or a student using an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award to pursue a technical program).

  Students whose awards are suspended for failure to maintain the required GPA or steady academic progress may be reinstated upon attainment of the required GPA provided that the period of ineligibility did not persist for more than two years (one year for the Tech Award) and the student has met the requirements noted in the first paragraph.

  Cancellation of an award due to hours is permanent unless a student is granted an exception. Students must apply for an exception within 6 months of the award cancellation date. If the exception is approved, it is still possible for the student to be placed on suspension for GPA or Steady Academic Progress.

  What Opt Out Is? 
  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. For more information, click here.

  What Opt Out is Not? 
  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.

  TOPS Information to Consider While Attending SUSLA

• TOPS pays for full-time tuition but does not cover fees.
• Here are just a few reminders to help you stay eligible for your TOPS award:
• You are allowed up to 2 academic years of TOPS Tech and 4 academic years of TOPS Opportunity, TOPS Performance, and TOPS Honors. Which each award, funding is contingent upon appropriations by the Louisiana Legislature.
• General Studies and the Louisiana Transfer Degrees are not eligible programs for the TOPS Tech award. Non-credit programs such as Medical Assistant, CDL Truck Driver Training Program, NC3 Sheet Metal Certification, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), EPA Job Training, IT Fundamentals/G-Suite, Healthcare Access Associate, Microsoft Office Specialist, Patient Care Technician, Web Development, and other non-credit programs offered through Workforce Development are also not eligible for TOPS.
• Each Fall and Spring semester you must enroll full time (12 or more credits) as of the 15th instructional class day. Each Summer semester you must enroll full time (12 or more credits) as of the 7th instructional class day.
• At no time (by the end of each semester) can your cumulative GPA drop below a 2.0. If this happens, you will be suspended from TOPS immediately and remain so until you reestablish eligibility by earning a cumulative 2.5 GPA. You will have one year after your TOPS awards is suspended to reestablish your eligibility. Beyond this time frame, your TOPS award will be cancelled. During any period of TOPS suspension, you must continue enrolling full time even though you are self-paying.
• Each year by the end of the Spring semester you must have a cumulative GPA of a 2.5 or higher and have passed 24 credit hours.
• If you have a 2.50 cumulative GPA at the end of the Spring semester but do not have the 24 credit hours passed. You can use hours earned in the summer sessions to meet the 24 credit hours per academic year requirement.
• An incomplete (I) grade makes you ineligible for TOPS until that grade is completed. An assessment will then be done to determine eligibility. This means that if you do not complete the (I) grade at the beginning of the next semester, you will have to pay your tuition and be reimbursed when you regain eligibility.
• If you are graduating at the end of the semester and require fewer than 12 credits to graduate, you may be eligible for TOPS with fewer than 12 credits. Notify the Office Financial Aid & Scholarships!
• Questions? Call TOPS at (800) 259-5626, ext. 1012 or visit the SUSLA Office Financial Aid & Scholarships.

For more information about TOPS, see the topics below:

• TOPS Tech Rights and Responsibilities
• TOPS Opportunity, Honors, and Performance Rights and Responsibilities
• TOPS Questions and Answers from LOSFA
• Don’t Blow Your TOPS (Award Eligibility Guidelines – First Time Award Recipient)
• Don’t Blow Your TOPS (Award Eligibility Retention Guidelines – Continuing Award Recipient)