College Scholarships and Grants in Louisiana
Do You Need Money for School in Louisiana?
Louisiana's public college and university system is comprised of nine Louisiana State University locations, eight University of Louisiana campuses, ten Community and Technical College campuses, and three Southern University locations. The state Board of Regents manages the state college and university system and the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid administers the state-funded scholarships and grants. In nearly all cases eligible students must be Louisiana residents. Students will find both merit and need based programs.
General Scholarships and Grants
Louisiana's Tuition Opportunity Program for Students is one of the more widely used. Known as TOPS, the program is designed to reward students based on merit. However, TOPS may be applicable on four different levels of student performance:
- TOPS Opportunity Award
- TOPS Performance Award
- TOPS Performance Award 2
- TOPS Honors Award
In all cases students must be Louisiana residents pursuing programs at a public or independent state college or university. Maximum award amounts are between $400 and $800 and all students must continue to meet academic standards while engaged in college programs. There is also a TOPS Tech Program designed for those students pursuing a technical or professional degree program at one of the state technical colleges.
The federally funded Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) provides tuition grants for students with financial need. Eligible recipients may enroll in any college or university program and must continue earning a GPA of at least 2.0. Grants may be $200 to $2000. Apply by filling out the FAFSA.
The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship awards $1500 scholarships to the state's academic top achievers. This federally funded program recognizes students from every state. Eligible recipients must be top students in their graduating class, have top GPAs and ACT scores. Qualified recipients must be accepted into a four-year college program anywhere in the United States.
Specialized Studies Programs
The Rockefeller Wildlife Scholarship is offered to qualifying students who are pursuing wildlife management or forestry degrees at an undergraduate level. Eligible students must be Louisiana state residents and attending a public college or university within the state. The scholarship is renewable.
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance website shows complete information and applications.
