Taylor Opportunity Program (TOPs)

HOW TO APPLY

• Complete the FAFSA or LOSFA application by July 1 each year
• Receive an official award letter from the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) during late summer after high school graduation

AWARD AMOUNTS & REQUIREMENTS

Students are notified of their TOPS level in their initial eligibility letter.

 

AWARD RETENTION

Students must meet the following requirements each semester to receive TOPS:

• Be enrolled full-time on the 15th day of class each semester

• Earn 24 credit hours each year over the fall, winter session, spring, spring intersession, and summer semesters

• Be enrolled continuously through consecutive fall and spring semesters

• Maintain the required GPA for specific TOPS award

• 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of each fall, intersession or summer semesters

The following GPAs will be checked at the end of each summer semester:
        • Below 24 hours earned: 2.0 GPA
        • 24 - 47 hours earned: 2.3 GPA
        • 48 or above hours earned: 2.5 GPA
        • Excellence, Performance or Honors Recipient: 3.0 GPA

The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) calculates a specific GPA for TOPS eligibility. This GPA does not recognize LSU’s plus/minus grading scale therefore your TOPS GPA will differ from your LSU cumulative GPA. You may reference this GPA calculator to assist you with TOPS GPA calculation. This is provided as a courtesy and does not guarantee TOPS or any other qualification.

Please contact LOSFA at custserv@la.gov or 1-800-259-5626 ext. 1012 if you have concerns about your TOPS GPA.

 

TOPS & NATIONAL GUARD

Students eligible for both institutional National Guard tuition waivers and TOPS awards must accept the institutional National Guard tuition waiver. If you are eligible for National Guard and TOPS, you will receive a reduced TOPS award. Additional information can be found here.

 

STUDY ABROAD

• All regular TOPS requirements must be observed for study abroad use

• Students must be enrolled full-time. NOTE: If host institution is on quarter system then the student must make sure hours earned transfer into full-time LSU hours

• If the student returns with fewer hours than expected, the student will be responsible for repaying the TOPS funds that were awarded to them

• Students should complete an enrollment verification form after the 14th day of class and return to Financial Aid & Scholarships to verify TOPS eligibility

• Students must submit their transcript to LSU by appropriate deadline or TOPS will be returned and the current anticipated credits will be cancelled.
       • Fall Deadline: April 1
       • Spring, Summer, and Year-long Program Deadline: November 1

• Students participating in a study abroad program through another Louisiana university should notify LSU Financial Aid & Scholarships. TOPS will be disbursed from the host institution.

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT TOPS

• Students may file a TOPS Exception form to appeal a TOPS cancellation or suspension. Exception forms should be sent directly to LOSFA.

• TOPS can only be used within one year of high school graduation

• Remaining semesters of TOPS eligibility can be used for graduate school if used within one year

• Students must become familiar with the TOPS Award Recipients Rights & Responsibilities (eligibility and retention requirements).

• For LSU Online students, you must be enrolled full time (12 credit hours) across both first module and second module combined to retain your funding for TOPS.

SUMMER TOPS

• Summer TOPS is contingent upon funding by the Louisiana Legislature, and the value is prorated based on the number of hours you are enrolled. Using TOPS for the summer semester will count as one of your eight semesters of eligibility. To be eligible to receive TOPS for the summer, you must have:

        • Earned 60 credit hours
        • Meet all TOPS requirements
        • Be enrolled in at least 6 hours for the summer semester