TOPS Award Amounts, Payments, and Use
Q-1. How much does the TOPS Opportunity Award pay to pursue an academic undergraduate
degree?
A. Payment of TOPS Awards is contingent upon appropriations by the Louisiana Legislature. See the
chart on LOSFA’s website at http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_Payment_Amounts.pdf
for TOPS payment amounts at specific colleges and universities for the 2020-2021 academic year.
The TOPS Award Amounts in the future will be the same as those provided in this chart unless the
Legislature specifically appropriates additional funding for TOPS. In that event, this chart will be
updated
.
Q-2. What is the value of a TOPS award?
A. It depends on the college attended and the award made to you. See the chart on LOSFA’s website at
http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_Payment_Amounts.pdf for the amount paid at different
colleges and universities during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Q-3. Can I use TOPS for summer school?
A. Payment of a TOPS Award is contingent upon appropriations by the Louisiana Legislature. If funding
is available, LOSFA will update its website and its social media pages, and the financial aid office at
your school will be notified.
The TOPS Opportunity, Performance and Honors Awards will not pay for summer school except
when funding for summer awards is available and when:
• the summer session is required in your degree program for graduation and you enrolled for at least
the minimum number of hours required for the degree program, or
• you can complete your program’s graduation requirements in the summer session, or
• the course(s) taken during the summer session is required for graduation in the program in which
you are enrolled and is only offered during the summer session, or
• the summer session is conducted for a technical program in which you are enrolled, or
• you have earned at least 60 hours.
NOTE: An award made for summer school expends one semester or term of eligibility.
Check with the financial aid office at your school.
If you are pursuing a technical certificate or diploma or degree, you should read the TOPS Tech
Section.
Q-4. How many semesters can I receive a TOPS award?
A. You may receive TOPS Awards for up to eight (8) semesters or twelve (12) quarters unless:
• Your award is reduced by one or two semesters because your application was submitted after
the deadline; or
• You qualified for TOPS based on an ACT score achieved after the ACT national test date in
April but before July 1 immediately after graduation; or
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• You enrolled in an out-of-state college; or
• Your award is reduced by one or two semesters because your Application to Return from an
Out-of-State College was submitted after the deadline.
If you have a permanent disability or enter on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, you may be
allowed to attend part time, but your total TOPS award may not exceed the equivalent of eight (8)
semesters or twelve (12) quarters. If TOPS has already paid for a semester or term during which you
are called to active duty, the semester or term will not be charged as a semester of TOPS used by you.
A Request for Exception form with instructions describing the documentation required can be found
on the LOSFA Web site (www.osfa.la.gov/exceptionform), obtained directly from LOSFA, or by
emailing custserv@la.gov
.
Q-5. Can I use TOPS to pursue a second undergraduate degree?
A. No. If you successfully complete an academic undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level and
have remaining TOPS eligibility, you CANNOT use the remaining eligibility to pursue a second
academic undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level; however, you may use the remainder of
your award to attend graduate or professional school. You MAY use the TOPS Opportunity,
Performance or Honors Award for technical programs, cosmetology school or proprietary school, and
you may use your award to complete more than one such program, provided you have not exceeded
your total eligibility of eight semesters or 12 quarters.
Q-6. Can I use TOPS to pursue a second associate degree?
A. Yes. You may use the TOPS Opportunity, Performance or Honors Award for a second associate
degree, for technical programs, cosmetology school or proprietary school, provided you have not
exceeded your total eligibility of eight semesters or 12 quarters.
Q-7. Can I use TOPS for graduate or professional school?
A. Yes. If you completed an undergraduate degree without exhausting all 8 semesters or 12 quarters of
eligibility, you may receive the period of eligibility remaining if you enroll in an eligible graduate or
professional school no later than the fall semester following the one year anniversary of completion
of your undergraduate degree and have met the requirements for continuation of your award.
Q-8. How much will my TOPS award pay for graduate school?
A. Payment of TOPS Awards is contingent upon appropriations by the Louisiana Legislature. See the
chart on LOSFA’s website at http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_Payment_Amounts.pdf
for the amounts paid during the 2018-2019 academic year.
Q-9. Will TOPS pay for me to attend a second graduate program?
A. Yes, if you have not used all of your period of eligibility.
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Q-10. How does my college get the money for my TOPS award?
A. TOPS awards are paid directly to the postsecondary institution the student is attending. Institutions
submit payment requests to LOSFA for students who are enrolled full-time on the 15th class day
(semester schools) or the 10th class day (quarter schools), or who enroll full-time after the 14th class
day (semester schools), or the 9th class day (quarter schools). Funds are sent directly to the institutions
either electronically or with a paper check as soon as funds are available for distribution.
Q-11. When is my TOPS award disbursed to my school?
A. Your school will submit a payment request to LOSFA for your TOPS award after the 14th class day
(semester schools) or the 9th class day (term or quarter schools). LOSFA will pay your award to your
school after it receives and processes the invoice.
Q-12. How does the university get the TOPS money to me?
A. This varies from institution to institution. You should contact the bursar or the financial aid officer at
your school. Normally, your school applies the award to charges you owe the school and the balance,
if any, will be remitted to you.
Q-13. Can I use TOPS in conjunction with other types of scholarships?
A. Yes. You can be awarded scholarships, other financial aid, and TOPS up to the cost of attendance for
your college or university. Cost of attendance is determined by each college and university based on
federal guidelines and can include tuition and fees, on-campus room and board (or a housing and food
allowance for off-campus students), and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, child care,
costs related to a disability, and miscellaneous expenses. Your college or university will deduct any
amounts you owe for tuition, fees, and other charges, and it will remit the remainder to you.
If the total of your scholarships, state and federal aid, and TOPS Award exceed the cost of attendance,
your school will reduce any loans (if applicable) first and it will continue reducing your financial
assistance until your awards do not exceed the cost of attendance. If the TOPS Award is totally
eliminated, the semester or term will not be counted toward the maximum semesters or terms allowed.
Q-14. Can I use the TOPS Opportunity, Performance or Honors Award to enroll in an occupational,
skill or technical program?
A. Yes. See the Section entitled TOPS Tech Award for additional information.
Q-15. I just received my fee bill. Why is my TOPS Opportunity award not paying for all of my tuition?
A. Payment of TOPS Awards is contingent upon appropriations by the Louisiana Legislature. See
the chart on LOSFA’s website at
http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_Payment_Amounts.pdf for the amounts paid at
specific colleges and universities for the 2020-2021 academic year. The TOPS Award Amounts in
the future will be the same as those provided in this chart unless the Legislature specifically
appropriates additional funding for TOPS.
