TOPS

Louisiana’s Merit-Based Scholarship

The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) (Authored by State Representative Charles R. McDonald) is a program of state merit-based scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend either one of the 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.

Check TOPS Status

Graduate caps with lens flare in the sun

TOPS Eligibility

To qualify for TOPS, a student must:

Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Meet TOPS Louisiana residency requirements.
Complete all required units on the TOPS or TOPS Tech core curricula.
Meet minimum Core GPA requirements (by award level) upon high school graduation.
Meet minimum ACT composite score requirements (by award level).

TOPS OPHE Award Levels & Eligibility Requirements

TOPS Opportunity Award

TOPS Performance Award

TOPS Honors Award

TOPS Excellence Award

TOPS OPHE Award Amounts by Institution

TOPS Tech Award & Eligibility Requirements

TOPS Tech Award

TOPS Tech Award Amounts by Institution

TOPS Tech Award Amounts

Applying for TOPS

Do you need to apply for TOPS for the first time? Please click the button below to determine what steps need to be taken to apply for TOPS.

Applying for Tops

TOPS Processing

After you apply, LOSFA reviews your records to determine eligibility. Learn how to check your status, avoid common issues, and make corrections if needed to keep your award on track.

TOPS Processing

Maintaining TOPS

Are you a continuing TOPS student and have questions about maintaining your award? Please click the button below to determine what steps need to be taken to maintain your TOPS award.

Maintaining TOPS

LOSFA Student Hub

The Student Hub is an online system to help students track TOPS status while in high school and throughout the student’s college career.

Access the Student Hub

High school students can track TOPS core curriculum requirements, TOPS GPA requirements and ACT scores while in high school. After high school graduation, students can track TOPS award eligibility, TOPS status, and receive their award letter FIRST via their Student Hub account. Once in college, all information relating to TOPS continuing eligibility and TOPS postsecondary GPA will be delivered via the Student Hub account.

In order to set up an account, you will need to use your assigned LOSFA ID or LASecureID. Once logged into your account, you will be able to check your TOPS status, ACT Score, notifications, etc. While logged into your account, you will also have the ability to choose to grant your parent(s) permission to access your information.

ACT | SAT | CLT Information

View TOPS Testing Requirement Information

Additional TOPS Resources

TOPS Bulletins

Name	Bulletin #
TOPS Definitions of Tuition, Academic Year and Intersession	T2011-1
Notice of Changes to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)	T2010-3
TOPS Initial Eligibility Processing for Academic Year 2011-2012	T2011-3
Adjusted TOPS Tuition Amounts	T2011-4
Publication of the TOPS Student Roster File Definition and Description	T2012-1
TOPS Academic Year Includes Summer Session-Fall Intersession	T2012-2
TOPS Tech Early Start Revised Application and Qualifying Top Demand Occupation List Update	T2012-3
TOPS Initial Eligibility for 2012 Graduates	T2012-4
TOPS Legislative Changes from the 2012 General Session	T2012-5
AY2013 Average Annual Award Amount	T2012-6
New TOPS Request for Exception Form	T2012-7
Change to the Scholarship and Grant Program Rules to add AP Human Geography as an equivalent to World Geography in the TOPS core curriculum	T2013-1
Addition of dispositions to the LOSFA Award System database	T2013-2
Change to the Scholarship and Grant Program Rules for TOPS to Implement Acts 140 and 359 of the 2013 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature relative to high school eligibility and changes to the TOPS Core Curriculum	T2013-3
Revises the Scholarship and Grant Program Rules to Change the Definition of Tuition and adds New Responsibilities for Public Post-Secondary Schools	T2013-4
Revises the Scholarship and Grant Program Rules to Change the Definition of Tuition and adds New Responsibilities for Public Post-Secondary Schools: Replaces T2013-04	T2014-1
Amends the Scholarship and Grant Program Rules to provide TOPS Recipients Who Complete a Certificate, Diploma or Associate’s Degree and Who Have Remaining TOPS Eligibility May Delay Enrollment in a Second Program of Study	T2014-2
File Format Changes in the Louisiana Award System	T2014-3
Guidance on Submission of Payment Requests and Grades	T2014-4
Exception Request Form	T2014-5
Consent Form for the TOPS Tracker, Determination of TOPS Eligibility, and College Admissions	T2014-6
Reporting Academic Information for TOPS and Non-TOPS Students to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance — FERPA Compliance	T2014-7
Consent Form — 18 Years old or Emancipated Minors for the TOPS Tracker, Determination of TOPS Eligibility, and College Admissions	T2014-8
TOPS Tech Early Start Eligible Program List	T2015-1
TOPS Tech Early Start Approved Training Providers	T2015-2
TOPS Cumulative Grade Point Average (Opportunity, Performance, Honors)	T2015-3
Award Level Upgrade/Downgrades and Cancellations	T2015-4
Changes to the Scholarship and Grant Program Rules for TOPS to Implement Acts 101, 230 and 403 of the 2015 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature relative to citizenship and changes to the TOPS Tech Core Curriculum	T2015-6
End of Academic Year Alignment	T2015-7
Revised TOPS Tech Early Start Payment Request File Format	T2016-1
Revised Application for TOPS Tech Early Start and Supplemental Course Allocation	T2016-2
TOPS Tech Award Eligible Programs for 2017 Graduates	T2016-3
“Opt Out” Procedures for Students Receiving a TOPS Award During a Budget Shortfall	T2016-4
TOPS Tech Early Start Application Beginning Fall 2016	T2016-5
ASPIRE and Pre-ACT Successor to ACT PLAN for TOPS Tech Early Start	T2016-6
TOPS Core Curriculum Regarding AP Physics I and AP Physics II	T2017-1
ACT WorkKeys for TOPS Tech Award	T2018-1
How to Correct TOPS Processing Errors	T2018-3
Why isn’t student information showing up on the FAFSA Completion Report even though the student has provided confirmation of completion?	T2018-2
TOPS Inventory Roster	T2018-4
Consent Form for the TOPS Tracker, Determination of TOPS Eligibility, and College Admissions	T2018-5
TOPS Tech Eligible Programs	T2018-6
TOPS Exception Request Form	T2019-1
TOPS Academic Standing Codes for Institutions Due to COVID-19.	T2020-1
Pass/Fail Implications on Students Eligibility for TOPS	T2020-2
Disposition code for partial payments	T2021-1
2021 Legislative Changes Impacting TOPS Scholarships	T2021-2
New CIP Codes for TOPS Tec	T2023-1
Important Notice Regarding Use of Initial vs. Reprocessed ISIR Data	S2024-3
TOPS Tech Early Start Application	Y2024-1
TOPS Tech Award for Approved Universal Transfer Pathways	T2024-1
TOPS Tech Award for Approved Universal Transfer Pathways	T2025-1
TOPS Excellence Award and Classic Learning Test	T2025-2