TOPS Opportunity Award

Standard Eligibility Requirements

• In order to be considered for TOPS, the student must attend a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) APPROVED HIGH SCHOOL. All Louisiana public schools are approved.
• If the student attends a non-public school, it must be approved by BESE in order for the student to be considered for TOPS. Look online to choose the Approval by Brumfield v Dodd document for the year the student graduated/will graduate from high school to determine if your child’s non-public school is approved.
• If the student is enrolled in Home Study through the Louisiana Department of Education, view online the TOPS home study requirements.
• Minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA of 2.50 (GPA computed on TOPS Core Curriculum courses only)
• Completion of the 19.0 Core Units of the TOPS Core Curriculum
• Minimum ACT Composite Score (or SAT Equivalent) of the prior year state average but never less than a 20 (Click here for the LOSFA ACT and SAT codes needed to be added to your test registrations)
• TOPS does not accept an ACT Superscore
• Must enroll full time as a first-time freshman, by the first semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident
• Meet TOPS Louisiana residency requirements

*BESE-Approved Home Study Eligibility  ACT/SAT Score of 2 points above standard  Currently 22

*Louisiana Residents graduating from an eligible out-of-state/country high school  ACT/SAT Score of 3 points above standard – Currently 23

Renewal Requirements

• Minimum 2.30 GPA at the end of the first Academic Year(between 24-47 hours of earned credit) 1
• Minimum 2.50 GPA at the end of all other Academic Years (once 48 hours have been earned) 1
• Maintain steady Academic Progress at the end of all other semesters/terms (2.00 Cumulative GPA) 1
• Student must be enrolled full-time as of the 15th class day at a semester institution or as of the 10th class day at a quarter institution and maintain continuous enrollment 2
• Earn at least 24 Credit Hours for Academic Year (the TOPS Academic Year begins with the fall term of the award year and concludes immediately before the next fall term commences. All intersessions and summer sessions are included)
• Hours earned during the Intersession between Fall and Spring Semesters will be counted toward meeting the 24-hour Annual Requirement but not toward Full-Time Enrollment
• For more information on courses that will and will not fulfill the 24-hour annual requirement view online. 

Suspended Award will be reinstated if appropriate GPA regained within 24 months.

Failure to enroll full time, maintain continuous enrollment or earn 24 hours results in cancellation of award and it cannot be reinstated without an Approved Request for Exception to the Initial, Continuous, Full-Time Enrollment and/or 24-Hour Requirement.