It pays
to make
good
grades!
TOPS
TOPS
 The TOPS program was created by the
Louisiana legislature in 1997 under the
administration of Governor Mike Foster
 1998 was the first award year for both 1997 and
1998 graduates
 TOPS is funded through the State General
Fund and the Millennium Trust Fund
 TOPS funds must be appropriated each year by
the Legislature
TOPS
What’s TOPS Worth?

*Based on current figures, a student receiving the TOPS Opportunity
Award would receive the following financial benefit over four years:


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


Nicholls State University
Louisiana Tech University
LSU-Baton Rouge
Univ. of New Orleans
Southeastern La University
Southern-Baton Rouge
UL – Lafayette
$10,712
$12,344
$13,976
$12,912
$10,904
$11,048
$10,216

LAICU Schools (private)
$10,744

TOPS Performance Award Recipients can add $1,600 to the
amounts above
TOPS Honors Award Recipients can add $3,200 to the amounts
above


*these figures are using current academic year tuition amounts. This
amount is subject to change.
Citizenship
TOPS
 A student must be a U.S. citizen, or a
permanent resident who is eligible to apply
for citizenship
 A parent or custodian of a dependent
student must have been a resident of the
state of Louisiana for the 24 months prior to
high school graduation; OR
 Resident student must have completed final
two years in an approved LA high school
Residency: Military Dependents
TOPS
 A member of the U.S. Armed forces, who is
transferred to Louisiana under permanent
change of station orders may qualify his/her
child for TOPS consideration if:
 They change their military personnel records to
establish Louisiana as the member’s official
state of residence within 180 days of reporting
 Submit an Affidavit of Residency and DD Form
2058
 Comply with Louisiana income tax laws
Criminal Record
 Have no criminal convictions
TOPS
 Excludes misdemeanor traffic violations
 A student who has a “final criminal
conviction” may not accept a TOPS award
TOPS Core Curriculum
 All TOPS core curriculum courses must be
completed by the date of high school graduation
TOPS
 Distance learning courses approved by the high
school may be used to qualify for TOPS
 College courses taken in the classroom, online, or
by correspondence may be used to qualify for
TOPS provided that they are determined to be
equivalent courses and appear on the student’s
official high school transcript
 Verify college admissions requirements for core
curriculum
 Admissions requirements may be different from the TOPS
Core Curriculum
TOPS Core Curriculum
TOPS
Units
4
English I, II, III, IV
1
Algebra I
1
Algebra II
1
Geometry, Calculus, Advanced Math I or II, PreCalculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete
Mathematics, Algebra III, Applied Mathematics
III, Integrated Mathematics III, or AP Calculus
1
Biology I or II
1
Chemistry I or II, or Chemistry Com
TOPS Core Curriculum
TOPS
Units
1
Mechanics, or
(two units)
1
Earth Science, Physical Science,
Environmental Science, Biology II,
Chemistry II, Physics, Physics II, Physics for
Technology, AP Physics C: Electricity &
Magnetism, AP Physics C:
Agriscience I & II
Additional Math or Science:
Geometry, Calculus, Advanced Math I,
Advanced Math II, Pre-Calculus,
Probability
and Statistics,
Discrete Mathematics,
Algebra
III, Applied Mathematics III,
Integrated Mathematics III, AP Calculus AB,
Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics, Physics II,
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, or
AP Physics C: Mechanics
TOPS Core Curriculum
TOPS
Units
1
American History
1
Civics and Free Enterprise (1 unit
combined), Civics, or AP American
Government
1
World History, Western Civilization, World
Geography, or European History
2
Foreign Language (2 units in the same
language), or American Sign
Language I & II
1
Fine Arts Survey
½
Computer Science
TOPS Core Curriculum GPA
TOPS
 The cumulative grade point average (GPA) for a
TOPS award will be calculated on a 4.0 scale using
only those grades achieved in the core curriculum
courses. For high schools using other grading
scales each grade shall be converted to 4.0 scale
 TOPS takes the highest grade earned in a core
group
 “P” grades are not included in the TOPS Core GPA
calculation
 GPA cannot be rounded up
TOPS
ACT
 ACT Deadlines for 2009 Graduates
 Without penalty: April 4, 2009
 Loss of one semester eligibility: June 13, 2009
 June scores can not be used to upgrade to
Opportunity
 Qualifying score must be earned by July 1 of senior
year
 Highest composite score will be considered
 TOPS does not consider the Essay portion of the ACT in
calculating the composite score needed to qualify
 ACT Registration
 TOPS Code 1595
 Social Security Number
SAT
 An equivalent SAT score may be
substituted for the ACT score
TOPS
 TOPS does not consider the Essay portion of
the SAT in calculating the composite score
needed to qualify
 SAT Test Deadlines
 Without Penalty: March 14, 2009
 Loss of 1 semester eligibility: May 2, 2009 and
June 6, 2009
 SAT Registration
 Scholarship Code 9019
 Social Security Number
Opportunity Award:
Eligibility Requirements
TOPS
 Eligibility Requirements




2.50 core curriculum GPA on a 4.00 scale
A minimum score of a 20 on the ACT
940 on the SAT
Complete the 17.5 core curriculum
 Award Amounts
 Provides an amount equal to tuition at a public
college university, or LTC in Louisiana or the
states weighted average cost of public tuition to
a private LAICU school
 Can be used for a maximum of eight semesters
or twelve quarters
TOPS
LAICU SCHOOLS
Centenary College
Dillard University
Louisiana College
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary
Our Lady of Holy Cross College
Our Lady of the Lake College
St. Joseph Seminary College
Tulane University
Xavier University
*TOPS is covering an amount of $1343/semester this
academic year plus any applicable stipends
Performance Award
TOPS
 Eligibility Requirements
 3.00 core curriculum GPA on a 4.00 scale
 A minimum score of 23 on the ACT
 1050 on the SAT
 Completion of the 17.5 core curriculum
 Award Amounts
 Amount equal to the TOPS Opportunity Award
plus an additional $400 annual stipend
 Can be used for a maximum of 8 semesters or
12 quarters
Honors Award
TOPS
 Eligibility Requirements




3.00 core curriculum GPA on a 4.00 scale
A minimum score of 27 on the ACT
1220 on the SAT
Completion of the 17.5 core curriculum
 Award Amounts
 Amount equal to the TOPS Opportunity Award
plus an additional $800 annual stipend
 Can be used for a maximum of 8 semesters or
12 quarters
TOPS
TOPS Tech Award
 Eligibility Requirements
 2.50 core curriculum GPA on a 4.00 scale
 A minimum score of 17 on the ACT
 810 on the SAT
 Completion of one of the Tech Core Option
curriculums or the OPH curriculum
 Award Amounts
 Amount equal to full time tuition at any LA
Technical college or community college offering
a two year Tech diploma/certificate. Or the
weighted amount at participating public 4 year
schools or private schools
 Can be used for a maximum of 2 years/4
semesters
TOPS Application
TOPS
FAFSA – www.fafsa.ed.gov
 Students are applying for all state/federal aid
TOPS Online Application – www.osfa.la.gov
 May only be completed by students who can
certify that they do not qualify for federal
grant aid
 In the event of a budget shortfall, students
completing the TOPS Online Application will
be the first to lose their TOPS award
 Do not complete if you have completed the
FAFSA
FAFSA KEY POINTS
TOPS
 Applications are available January 1st of
the students senior year
 Provide correct student data
 Social Security Number
 Home Address
 Selective Service if applicable
 Select that you wish to be considered for
loans and grants
 Be prepared to provide financial
information
 Sign Application -both parent and student
TOPS Award Letter
 Students eligible for a TOPS award will be notified
by means of an official award letter from LOSFA
TOPS
 Students have one year in which to enroll in a
Louisiana approved post-secondary institution
 TOPS recipients should familiarize themselves with
the Rights and Responsibilities included with
their award letter
 Students can check their TOPS award status
online by creating a TOPS Portal Account at
www.osfa.state.la.us after May 1st
 TOPS recipients are personally responsible for
knowing and complying with the TOPS
continuation requirements
Award Acceptance
TOPS
 Must enter an eligible institution as a full-time
student by the first semester following the first
anniversary of high school graduation
 Military Students – join the Armed Forces on active
duty within one year of high school and must
return by the fall following the 5th anniversary of
high school graduation with honorable discharge
 TOPS Recipients serving in the National Guard
will receive the tuition exemption equal to the
TOPS award amount; any applicable TOPS
stipends, plus $300 annually for books and
supplies
Award Acceptance:
Returning Out-of-State Students
TOPS
 A TOPS eligible student who enrolls as a first-time full-time
freshman at an out-of-state institution may return to
Louisiana and accept their TOPS award if they have met
the following conditions:
 Must have first enrolled in the out-of-state institution no
later than fall semester following the students one year
anniversary of high school graduation
 Must have met all program continuation requirements
while out of state
 Must apply for reinstatement by July 1 following the
academic year in which the student returns to
Louisiana
 TOPS eligibility will be reduced by the number of
semesters attended out-of-state
Graduate Study
TOPS
 Any Opportunity, Performance or Honors award recipient who
successfully completes an academic undergraduate degree
in less than eight semesters or 12 quarters of award benefits,
may receive their award for any remaining semesters or
quarters of eligibility for graduate study
 Student must pursue a postgraduate academic degree at an
eligible institution
 Must continue to meet all TOPS retention requirements
 The amount of the award will be equal to graduate tuition at
their school or the equivalent of LSU-BR under graduate
tuition, whichever is less. Students will also receive their
stipends if applicable.
TOPS
TOPS Retention: Credit Hours

Must maintain continuous full time enrollment and earn 24 credit
hours each academic year
 Hours earned in summer session, intersession or advanced
placement may not be used towards the 24 annual hours
required
 Earned hours are hours successfully completed with a passing
grade
 LOSFA can grant an exception in certain situations

TOPS GPA Requirements
 Opportunity Award: 2.30 first academic year
2.50 all subsequent years
 Performance Award:
3.00
 Honors Award:
3.00
 Students falling below 3.0 would revert to Opportunity
 Tech Award:
2.50

Students are encouraged to renew their FAFSA each year
Contact LOSFA
TOPS
www.osfa.la.gov
custserv@osfa.la.gov
(800) 259-5626 Ext. 1012
(225) 922-1012
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday