TOPS Scholarship Louisiana: Requirements and Award Levels (2026)

What is the TOPS scholarship?

TOPS, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, is Louisiana's merit-based scholarship that pays college tuition for eligible Louisiana residents who attend an in-state public college, university, or technical school. It is not based on financial need. If you graduate from an eligible Louisiana high school, complete the TOPS core curriculum, hit the required GPA, and earn the required ACT or SAT score, the state pays your tuition for up to eight semesters.

There are four merit award levels, plus a technical award. Each one pays the same tuition base, but the higher levels add a cash stipend. The level you earn depends on two numbers: your TOPS core curriculum GPA and your ACT or SAT score. This guide breaks down every level, the exact scores you need, how much each is worth, and how to apply.

TOPS award levels at a glance

The table below shows the requirements for students graduating in the class of 2022 and later, which covers everyone applying for 2026. The TOPS Excellence Award is the newest level, added by Act 347 of the 2025 Louisiana Legislature and available starting with the class of 2024-2025.

The ACT is the test most Louisiana students use for TOPS, but the SAT equivalents above are fully accepted. One important rule: TOPS does not accept ACT superscores. It uses your highest single-sitting composite, so your best test day is what counts. If you want to raise that number, you can start a free ACT or SAT practice quiz and track exactly which level you are on pace for.

TOPS eligibility requirements

Earning a qualifying GPA and test score is the headline, but TOPS has a full checklist. To be eligible you must:

• Be a Louisiana resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Graduate from an eligible Louisiana high school (approved public, nonpublic, or home study programs qualify under specific rules).
• Complete the 19-unit TOPS core curriculum in English, math, science, social studies, and a foreign language.
• Earn the required core GPA for your award level, calculated on the core courses only, not your full transcript.
• Earn the required ACT or SAT score on a national test date.
• File the FAFSA (or the Louisiana TOPS On-Line application) by the deadline.

The GPA that matters here is computed only on the 19 core units, similar to how Florida builds its Bright Futures GPA from a core block of credits. Electives outside the core do not move your TOPS GPA, so protecting your grades in core English, math, and science classes is the highest-leverage thing you can do.

How much is the TOPS scholarship worth?

Every merit level pays a tuition-based "TOPS Award Amount." That amount is pegged to the tuition rate your institution charged in the 2016-2017 academic year, unless the Legislature increases it. Because tuition has risen since then at some schools, TOPS may not cover 100 percent of current tuition everywhere, so check the current award amount for your campus.

On top of the tuition base, the higher levels add cash:

• TOPS Opportunity: tuition base, no stipend.
• TOPS Performance: tuition base plus a $400 annual stipend.
• TOPS Honors: tuition base plus an $800 annual stipend.
• TOPS Excellence: tuition and mandatory fees, or $12,000 per year at public institutions ($8,500 at eligible private LAICU schools), whichever is less.

That stipend difference is real money over four years. Moving from Opportunity to Honors is worth an extra $3,200 in stipends alone across eight semesters, before you count the higher award amount.

TOPS ACT and SAT score requirements

The test score is the gate that most often decides a student's award level, because the GPA tiers are closer together than the score tiers. A few extra points can move you from Opportunity to Performance or Honors and unlock the stipend.

The scores in the table above are minimums, and they are based on a single test sitting. If you are close to the next tier, retaking the test is usually the fastest path to a bigger award. Timing matters too: for the ACT, April is the final test date without an award reduction, and for the SAT it is March. Sitting later national dates can reduce your award by a semester, so plan your testing early. Our guide to ACT test dates lays out the full calendar.

To know where you stand right now, take a timed practice section and convert it with our score calculator. You can also build your fundamentals with full-length ACT practice and SAT practice on Larry Learns.

How to apply for TOPS

There is no separate "TOPS scholarship application" fee, and the process is simpler than most students expect:

1. File the FAFSA or the TOPS On-Line application. Most students complete the FAFSA, which automatically feeds your information to LOSFA. Students who do not wish to file the FAFSA can submit the state TOPS On-Line application instead.
2. Complete your core curriculum and send your test scores. Your high school reports your core GPA and curriculum completion to LOSFA after graduation.
3. Meet the July 1 deadline. To receive full TOPS funding, your FAFSA or TOPS application must be received by July 1 following the year of your high school graduation. The final deadline is July 1 following the one-year anniversary of graduation.
4. Enroll full-time at an eligible Louisiana institution in the fall after you graduate, or qualify for an approved exception.

All official rules, award amounts, and forms live on the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance site, and the current ACT and SAT score requirements are published there as well.

Your next step

TOPS rewards two things you can still influence: your core GPA and your test score. Lock in the highest test score you can before your final no-penalty test date, keep your core grades strong, and file the FAFSA on time. If a few points stand between you and the Performance or Honors stipend, that is the cheapest scholarship money you will ever earn. Start a free practice quiz today and see which TOPS level is within reach, then aim one tier higher.

Frequently Asked Questions About the TOPS Scholarship

What is the TOPS scholarship in Louisiana?

TOPS, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, is Louisiana's merit-based scholarship that pays college tuition for eligible Louisiana residents attending in-state public colleges, universities, and technical schools. It is awarded on academic merit, not financial need.

What ACT or SAT score do you need for TOPS?

For students graduating in 2022 and later, you need an ACT of 20 (SAT 1030) for TOPS Opportunity, 23 (SAT 1130) for Performance, 27 (SAT 1260) for Honors, and 31 (SAT 1390) for Excellence. TOPS Tech requires a 17 (SAT 920). TOPS does not accept ACT superscores.

What GPA do you need for TOPS?

You need a TOPS core curriculum GPA of 2.50 for Opportunity, 3.25 for Performance, and 3.50 for both Honors and Excellence. The GPA is calculated only on your 19 core curriculum units, not your full transcript.

How much money does the TOPS scholarship give you?

All levels pay a tuition-based award amount pegged to 2016-2017 tuition rates. Performance adds a $400 annual stipend and Honors adds $800. The newer Excellence Award pays tuition and fees or $12,000 per year at public institutions, whichever is less.

What is the TOPS application deadline?

To receive full funding, your FAFSA or TOPS On-Line application must be received by July 1 following your high school graduation. The final deadline is July 1 following the one-year anniversary of graduation.

Does TOPS cover full college tuition?

TOPS covers a tuition award amount set at 2016-2017 rates. At schools where tuition has risen since then, it may not cover the full current tuition, so check the current award amount for your specific Louisiana institution.

Can I use the SAT instead of the ACT for TOPS?

Yes. LOSFA publishes SAT equivalents for every award level, so a qualifying SAT score works in place of the ACT. The SAT essay is not used as a qualifier, and the score must come from a single test sitting.