New grant offers aid to students near degree or credential completion
Contact
Brittany Francis, Ph.D.
Public Information and Communications Director
(225) 219-3306 Office
Tyana Daquano
Public Information Officer
(225) 342-5173 Office
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA)
August 13, 2021
New grant offers aid to students near degree or credential completion
Louisiana students in all majors who are near completion of a degree may be eligible for additional financial aid under the new Completers Grant. The grant provides financial assistance to students who are within 30 credit hours of completing an associate or bachelor’s degree at a Louisiana public two- or four-year postsecondary institution. All degree programs are eligible for funding assistance, with equal priority given to the following high demand fields: healthcare, other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields and teacher education.
The Completers Grant also incentivizes enrollment in and completion of short-term credential programs at two-year institutions. The grant will not provide more than two consecutive semesters of funding. Each academic institution will determine the award amount.
A student’s eligibility for federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans is not to be considered as a financial aid resource.
“Louisiana cannot afford to have students defer their higher education dreams. Completers Grants will help those who have graduation within sight, but may have run out of the funds needed to cross the finish line,” said Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed. “The pandemic has certainly impacted the plans of many near-completers. These funds can help get students back on track, aiding them to finish what they started and become graduates.”
To be eligible for a Completers Grant, students must 1.) be a Louisiana resident, 2.) complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which the award will be received, 3.) meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) benchmarks for credit programs, 4.) successfully and sufficiently complete courses to continue in the selected course of study for non-credit programs, 5.) be enrolled through the 14th day of classes, and 6.) meet one of the priority guidelines.
Priority each semester will be given to students who are within 30 hours of completing a degree in a STEM or health care field, or students who will complete an on-ramp credential or credential of value as identified by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Priority selection criteria for recipients are as follows:
- First, to those students who are expected to complete their program of study/graduating in the fall who have significantly depleted or who have no other sources of financial aid;
- Second, to those students who are expected to complete their program of study/graduate in spring who have significantly depleted or who have no other sources of financial aid;
- Third, to those students who are expected to complete their program of study/graduate in summer who have significantly depleted or who have no other sources of financial aid.
The Completers Grant is funded through one-time Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) dollars, available through September 30, 2022. The Louisiana Board of Regents approved the framework for the grant. The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) will administer the program.
For more information on the Completers Grant click the button below or contact completers@la.gov.
