Louisiana · verified 2026-10-30
TOPS Scholarship requirements
Louisiana's TOPS has four award levels and each one is keyed to an ACT composite: 17 for Tech, 20 for Opportunity, 23 for Performance and 27 for Honors. More points move you up a level, and each level pays more.
17 to 20
3 points between TOPS Tech and TOPS Opportunity.
Tuition toward a technical or vocational programme at a 17. Tuition at a Louisiana public institution at a 20. A 20 is the 63th percentile nationally, against a 47th for a 17.
Raise my ACT score to a 20+ →Free to start, no card.
Every tier, and what it asks for
| Tier | ACT | GPA | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOPS Honors | 27 | 2.50 core GPA | Tuition plus the largest stipend |
| TOPS Performance | 23 | 2.50 core GPA | Tuition plus a stipend |
| TOPS Opportunity | 20 | 2.50 core GPA | Tuition at a Louisiana public institution |
| TOPS TechAn ACT Silver WorkKeys credential also qualifies. | 17 | 2.50 core GPA | Tuition toward a technical or vocational programme |
Louisiana colleges pay on top of TOPS Scholarship
TOPS Scholarship is state money. Colleges publish their own award charts on top of it — at a 20 with a 3.5 GPA:
See every college that pays a 20 →Other state programmes
Email me every college that pays at a 20
TOPS Scholarship is Louisiana. We have read the published award charts at 504 colleges nationally, and the email sends the ten that pay you most — five public, five private. No account.
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TOPS Scholarship questions
What are the TOPS Scholarship requirements?
Louisiana's TOPS has four award levels and each one is keyed to an ACT composite: 17 for Tech, 20 for Opportunity, 23 for Performance and 27 for Honors. More points move you up a level, and each level pays more.
What ACT score do you need for the TOPS Scholarship?
17 at the lowest qualifying tier, and 20 to reach TOPS Opportunity. A 17 is the 47th percentile nationally and a 20 is the 63th.
Does an ACT score change what Louisiana colleges pay?
Yes, separately from TOPS Scholarship. At a 20 with a 3.5 GPA, 4 of the 13 Louisiana colleges whose award charts we have read publish a figure, the largest being $3,000 a year at LSU New Orleans. That is the college's own money, not the state's.
Verified 2026-10-30 against Louisiana OSFA — TOPS. State programmes are reviewed annually and the thresholds move, so confirm against the administering agency before relying on them. College figures come from each college’s own published chart. A published threshold is not an offer.