Louisiana college grants and scholarships are run by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), and the three main programs are TOPS, the merit-based Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; the GO Grant, need-based aid for Pell Grant recipients; and the M.J. Foster Promise Program for adults 21 and older in high-demand two-year programs. The GO Grant runs off the FAFSA, and LOSFA’s TOPS pages link to its own application steps. M.J. Foster has its own application.
LOSFA’s site now lives at losfa.laregents.edu, and older links to osfa.la.gov or mylosfa.la.gov redirect there. LOSFA also notes that it never charges fees to apply for its scholarships or grants (LOSFA, Scholarships and Grants).
TOPS: Louisiana’s merit scholarship
LOSFA describes TOPS as “a program of state merit-based aid for Louisiana residents who attend an approved school, college, or university” (LOSFA, TOPS). There are several award levels: Opportunity, Performance, Honors and Excellence for academic students, plus TOPS Tech and TOPS Tech Early Start for technical programs. Each level has its own minimum core GPA and ACT score.
The TOPS Opportunity Award
Opportunity is the base level most TOPS students start from. LOSFA lists these requirements (LOSFA, The TOPS Opportunity Award):
- A minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA of 2.50, computed on TOPS core courses only, not your overall GPA.
- A minimum ACT composite (or SAT or CLT equivalent) “of the prior year state average but never less than a 20.”
- Meeting TOPS Louisiana residency requirements.
- Enrolling full time by the first semester after the first anniversary of high school graduation.
Louisiana residents graduating from eligible out-of-state or out-of-country high schools qualify with an ACT, SAT or CLT equivalent of 23 instead of the core units and GPA.
What Opportunity pays: LOSFA says the “TOPS Award Amount,” which is “based on the cost of tuition set by the administering agency.” At private LAICU member colleges it is a weighted average of that amount. Louisiana National Guard members receive a tuition exemption plus $600 per academic year for books and materials. LOSFA publishes award amount tables in separate documents linked from its TOPS page; check the table for your school and year rather than relying on a figure from an older guide.
Watch the core GPA
The most common TOPS surprise is a student whose overall GPA is well above 2.50 but whose core GPA, calculated only on the required TOPS core courses, falls short. Ask your counselor to check your TOPS core GPA by junior year, and plan senior-year courses around it.
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GO Grant: need-based aid for Pell recipients
LOSFA calls the GO Grant “a program to provide a need-based component to the state’s financial aid plan for Pell Grant recipients” (LOSFA, GO Grant). To be eligible you must:
- Be a Louisiana resident.
- File the FAFSA.
- Receive a Federal Pell Grant.
- Have remaining financial need after your Student Aid Index (SAI) and gift aid are subtracted from your cost of attendance.
- Enroll at least half time at an eligible Louisiana institution.
LOSFA’s GO Grant page, read in November 2026, lists a minimum annual award of $300 and a maximum annual award of $3,000 for “the current Academic Year,” without naming the year. Actual awards depend on each college’s allocation and packaging policy, so your college decides the amount. There is no separate GO Grant application.
M.J. Foster Promise Program for adults
The M.J. Foster Promise Program is for adults returning to school for high-demand, high-wage credentials (LOSFA, M.J. Foster Promise Program). LOSFA says:
- New applicants must be at least 21.
- Family income must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, or you must certify unemployment or underemployment of at least six months.
- You must enroll in a qualified program at a two-year public college or an approved proprietary school, leading to an associate degree or shorter credential.
- Full-time students receive up to $3,200 per award year ($1,600 per semester), with a lifetime maximum of $6,400 over three years.
- Funds cover tuition, required fees and mandatory books and supplies.
The award year runs July 1 through June 30, and the annual application opens June 1. LOSFA says funding is “first-come, first-billed,” so apply early. Questions go to [email protected] or (225) 224-8254.
Louisiana’s main programs side by side
| TOPS Opportunity | GO Grant | M.J. Foster Promise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basis | Core GPA 2.50 and ACT (never below 20) | Pell recipient with remaining need | Age 21+, income or unemployment test |
| Pays | TOPS Award Amount tied to tuition | $300 to $3,000 (current year, per LOSFA) | Up to $3,200 per award year; $6,400 lifetime |
| Enrollment | Full time | At least half time | Qualified two-year or proprietary program |
| Application | See LOSFA’s TOPS application page | FAFSA | M.J. Foster application; FAFSA for continuing students |
How to apply
- File the 2027-28 FAFSA early. Our guide on how to fill out the FAFSA walks through each section.
- Check LOSFA’s TOPS application page for the current deadline for your graduation year; we did not find it stated on the award page we read.
- Meet your college’s priority date for the GO Grant, since colleges award it from a set allocation. Our FAFSA deadlines guide explains why.
- Adults: apply for M.J. Foster as soon as the application opens June 1.
How Louisiana aid fits with federal aid
The GO Grant requires a Pell Grant, so the FAFSA is essential. For award years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, a student whose non-federal aid equals or exceeds the cost of attendance is not eligible for Pell, according to a June 4, 2026 Federal Student Aid electronic announcement. A student stacking TOPS, the GO Grant and large outside scholarships should ask the aid office how close the package comes to cost of attendance.
Does TOPS require full-time enrollment?
LOSFA’s Opportunity page says you must enroll full time by the first semester after the first anniversary of high school graduation. If you plan a gap year or part-time start, ask LOSFA how that affects your award before you decide.
Where to go next
Compare Louisiana with other states in our guide to state grants for college, and use our free scholarship finder for awards that stack on top. LOSFA answers TOPS and GO Grant questions at (225) 219-1012 and [email protected].