No matter where you’re attending college in Louisiana, it’s always a good idea to see what scholarships and grants are available to help offset the cost of tuition.
The forethought to pursue opportunities, such as scholarships and grants, is all you or someone you care for might need. Finding financial aid opportunities for which you are eligible can significantly reduce the cost of college overall.
As part of our state by state guide to financial aid, below we will go over some of the grants, scholarships, and student loan opportunities available for students in Louisiana to pay for college.
What Scholarship Programs Does Louisiana Have?
Here are some of the most popular scholarship programs that Louisiana offers to students interested in college.
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend: Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities, Schools that are a part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Louisiana approved Proprietary and Cosmetology Schools, or Institutions that are a part of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
Since there is such a varied list of approved schools, the scholarship program can apply to almost any potential degree track.
There are four different awards with different eligibility requirements:
- TOPS Opportunity Award
- Minimum High School GPA of 2.50 (GPA computed on core courses only)
- 0 Core Units
- Minimum ACT Score (or SAT Equivalent) of the prior year state average (currently 20)
- Must enroll full time as a first-time freshman by the first semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation
- US citizen or permanent resident
- Meet TOPS Louisiana residency requirements
- TOPS Performance Award
- Minimum High School GPA of 3.00 (GPA computed on core courses only)
- 0 Core Units
- Minimum ACT Score (or SAT Equivalent) of 23
- Must enroll full time as a first-time freshman by the first semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation
- US citizen or permanent resident
- Meet TOPS Louisiana Residency requirements
- TOPS Honors Award
- Minimum High School GPA of 3.00 (GPA computed on core courses only)
- 0 Core Units
- Minimum ACT Score (or SAT Equivalent) of 27
- Must enroll full time as a first-time freshman by the first semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation
- US citizen or permanent resident
- Meet TOPS Louisiana Residency requirements
- TOPS Tech Award
- Minimum High School GPA of 2.50 (GPA computed on core courses only)
- 21 units that comprise the TOPS Tech JumpStart Core Curriculum
- Students may also qualify for the TOPS Tech Award by completing the TOPS Core Curriculum for the Opportunity, Performance, and Honors Awards
- Minimum ACT Score (or SAT Equivalent) of 17
- Must enroll full time as a first-time freshman by the first semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation
- US citizen or permanent resident
- Meet TOPS Louisiana Residency requirements
Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship
The Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship is a competitive scholarship. It awards $2000 annually for an undergraduate student and $3,000 annually to a graduate student pursuing a degree in forestry, wildlife, or marine science at a Louisiana Public College or University.
The cumulative maximum award is $12,000 for up to three years of undergraduate study and two years of graduate study.
The standard eligibility requirements are:
- Be a US citizen or national or eligible non-citizen
- Be registered with Selective Service if required.
- Be a Louisiana resident for at least one year prior to July 1st of the scholarship award year.
- Complete and submit such documentary evidence as required by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance.
- Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student
- Be enrolled in a Louisiana Public College or University majoring in forestry, wildlife, or marine science with the intent of obtaining a degree in that field.
- Undergraduate students must have earned at least 60 hours of college credit and have at least a 2.50 cumulative college GPA.
- As a graduate student, applicants must have at least a 3.00 cumulative college GPA on all credits earned in graduate school.
What Grant Programs Does Louisiana Have?
Here is the primary grant program available to students in Louisiana.
GO Grant
The purpose of the GO Grant is to provide a need-based component to the state’s financial aid plan to support nontraditional and low-to-moderate income students who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college.
The program has a maximum annual award of $3,000.
To qualify, you must:
- Be a Louisiana resident
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Receive a federal Pell grant
- Have remaining financial need after deducting Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) and all federal or state or institutional grants or scholarship aid (“gift aid”) from student’s Cost of Attendance (COA)
- Be a student enrolled in an eligible Louisiana institution on at least a half-time basis (minimum six hours at semester school or four hours at a quarter school).
What Student Loan Programs Does Louisiana Have?
Louisiana does not have any unique student loan programs through the state government. It is always beneficial to look at federal loan options, however. The best approach is to fill out your FAFSA application to determine federal funding options before you look elsewhere.
Federal Student Loans
Prospective Louisiana students can receive federal financial aid assistance by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These are some of the best options for loans because it has a longer deferment period and much lower interest rates than its private counterparts.
Private Co-Signed Student Loans
There are many private student loan opportunities for those who need additional assistance on top of federal student loans. Learn more about private co-signed student loans here.
No Co-Signer Student Loans in Louisiana
Funding U offers no co-signer student loans to individuals currently in college. The requirements for receiving a loan are dependent upon the GPA of the student and the graduation rate of the institution they attend. Learn more about no co-signer student loans here. NOTE: Funding U does not offer loans to residents of the state of Louisiana. However, if you are attending a school located in Louisiana and are a resident of another state that is eligible you may apply.
What Schools Does Funding U Lend To In Louisiana?
Funding U’s no co-signer loans are offered to students at eligible four-year, non-profit, undergraduate degree-granting universities. We do not lend to for-profit schools, 2-year schools, graduate schools, or trade schools.
Our eligibility requirements are based on models that aim to predict how likely a student is to graduate, so we have minimum GPA requirements that students must meet and minimum six-year graduation rates that schools must reach to be eligible.
Find out more about how we determine our eligibility here.
Below is a table listing all the schools in Louisiana that Funding U is currently lending to, with additional details on which grades we are currently considering based on the school’s six-year graduation rate.
| School Name | Freshman Eligible | Sophomore Eligible | Junior Eligible | Senior Eligible | 6 yr Grad Rate | Retention Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary College of Louisiana | No | No | Yes | Yes | 60 | 78 |
| Dillard University | No | No | No | No | 42 | 70 |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | No | No | No | No | 35 | 75 |
| Grambling State University | No | No | No | No | 33 | 68 |
| Louisiana College | No | No | No | No | 30 | 55 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | No | No | Yes | Yes | 67 | 83 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | No | No | No | No | 30 | 59 |
| Louisiana State University-Shreveport | No | No | No | No | 33 | 64 |
| Louisiana Tech University | No | No | Yes | Yes | 54 | 80 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | No | No | Yes | Yes | 61 | 80 |
| McNeese State University | No | No | No | No | 45 | 68 |
| Nicholls State University | No | No | No | No | 45 | 70 |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | No | No | No | No | 45 | 76 |
| Saint Joseph Seminary College | No | No | Yes | Yes | 50 | 82 |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | No | No | No | No | 40 | 66 |
| Southern University and A & M College | No | No | No | No | 30 | 64 |
| Southern University at New Orleans | No | No | No | No | 25 | 52 |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 85 | 93 |
| University of Holy Cross | No | No | No | No | 49 | 69 |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | No | No | No | No | 48 | 75 |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | No | No | No | No | 44 | 72 |
| University of New Orleans | No | No | No | No | 37 | 62 |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | No | No | No | No | 49 | 72 |