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New TOPS award approved for high-performing students
Posted on 6/25/25 at 9:53 am
Posted on 6/25/25 at 9:53 am
quote:
The Louisiana Legislature has created a new award level for the state’s popular tuition assistance program that will cover the entirety of tuition and fees at public universities for the highest-performing students.
House Bill 77 by Rep. Chris Turner, R-Ruston, creates the TOPS Excellence award, which is available to any student with a 3.5 grade point average and a score of 31 or higher on the ACT or an equivalent score on a similar exam. The scholarship will provide tuition and fees at the Louisiana public university the student chooses or $12,000, whichever is less.
It's about time. Out-of-state schools have been poaching our best students because we barely reward them over average students.
LINK
18
Posted on 6/25/25 at 9:55 am to DrrTiger
$12000 doesn’t seem like much these days
Posted on 6/25/25 at 9:56 am to DrrTiger
quote:probably should have some commitment to work in Louisiana as the top students will still leave for better jobs and quality of life elsewhere.
It's about time. Out-of-state schools have been poaching our best students
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:00 am to Sun God
quote:
12000 doesn’t seem like much these days
Its the current cost of tuition and fees per year at LSU for undergrad. It's about a $4000/yr increase in TOPS funding for those high performing students if I'm reading the charts correctly.
This post was edited on 6/25/25 at 10:05 am
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:00 am to DrrTiger
Texas companies thank Mr. Turner
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:01 am to DrrTiger
I stayed in state regardless as it's what I wanted to do, but I don't think "and we'll throw in an extra few thousand to cover your fees" would have really moved the needle for me two decades ago, much less now. LSU is still extremely stingy with scholarships with in state students. TOPS is still a relatively weak attempt compared to the scholarships most of the best students can get out of state.
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:03 am to DrrTiger
This is a good move that should be offset on the lower awards but won’t.. these are the students we need, they arent the top but the engineers, lawyer, executive types that we desperately need to stay in Louisiana
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:04 am to DrrTiger
I came through the system before TOPS. This sounds like an awfully low figure compared to tuition costs nowadays. How much is the tops award for the average student?
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:05 am to uscpuke
quote:
probably should have some commitment to work in Louisiana as the top students will still leave for better jobs and quality of life elsewhere.
This makes a lot of sense. Whats the point of LA taxpayers paying for education to people that will move out of state? Should be like the military. We pay 4 years of school, you owe us 4 years of work in the state. Or pay back the scholly.
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:07 am to EvrybodysAllAmerican
quote:
This makes a lot of sense. Whats the point of LA taxpayers paying for education to people that will move out of state? Should be like the military. We pay 4 years of school, you owe us 4 years of work in the state. Or pay back the scholly.
This is incredibly easy to do through tax credits, but our retard politicians are too worried about useless bullshite
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:10 am to EvrybodysAllAmerican
quote:
This makes a lot of sense. Whats the point of LA taxpayers paying for education to people that will move out of state? Should be like the military. We pay 4 years of school, you owe us 4 years of work in the state. Or pay back the scholly.
You’ll drive more away.. other states are picking these students off left and right.. I know as my oldest son is one of them. He fit right in this category and got much better offers from both public and private out of state..
Louisiana isn’t the selling point, the cost is and if you can manage that then you’re more likely to keep more.
This post was edited on 6/25/25 at 10:57 am
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:11 am to EvrybodysAllAmerican
quote:
This makes a lot of sense. Whats the point of LA taxpayers paying for education to people that will move out of state? Should be like the military. We pay 4 years of school, you owe us 4 years of work in the state. Or pay back the scholly.
If this is the case, I’d advise my children not to take it. How about fix the political climate in Louisiana so companies come in and pay good wages? Instead our kids go to TX, FL, TN, etc because their states aren’t run by a bunch of fricking tards.
This post was edited on 6/25/25 at 10:12 am
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:11 am to uscpuke
quote:
probably should have some commitment to work in Louisiana as the top students will still leave for better jobs and quality of life elsewhere.
I watch annually some of the very best LA high school graduates in my neck of bayou state head to out of state universities. Alabama is one in particular.
LA asleep at the wheel.
Before LA puts constraints, I think realization these awards are table stakes for students of this caliber.
To constrain is to remain at least partially asleep at the wheel.
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:15 am to uscpuke
quote:
probably should have some commitment to work in Louisiana as the top students will still leave for better jobs and quality of life elsewhere
Would probably scare a lot of kids off. Louisiana's economy doesn't produce a lot of entry level white collar jobs which is what these kids are studying for. Perhaps fix the economy first.
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:17 am to Defenseiskey
quote:
Perhaps fix the economy first
Yes, but you also can’t spend tax payer money with no return. These aren’t mutually exclusive. You’re investing $50k per student, and getting nothing in return if they don’t live and work in Louisiana after college
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:18 am to TROLA
quote:
You’ll drive more away.. other states are picking these students off left and right.. I know as my oldest son is one of them. He fit right in this category and got much better offers from both state and private out of state..
And there's probably a pretty good chance he will stay in whatever state he goes to college in for work.
Thats why these out of state schools are cherry picking LA's best and brightest. So they will come to college AND stick around for their careers.
This post was edited on 6/25/25 at 10:20 am
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:19 am to uscpuke
quote:Good luck enforcing anything like that
have some commitment to work in Louisiana
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:19 am to DrrTiger
You should be required to work in the state for a certain amount of years.
Call it a 0% loan
If you leave the state to work, you have to pay an interest free payment monthly to give the funds back. Basically a % of your paycheck
Call it a 0% loan
If you leave the state to work, you have to pay an interest free payment monthly to give the funds back. Basically a % of your paycheck
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:20 am to sidewalkside
quote:
Good luck enforcing anything like
Just call it a loan
Posted on 6/25/25 at 10:20 am to EvrybodysAllAmerican
quote:
This makes a lot of sense. Whats the point of LA taxpayers paying for education to people that will move out of state? Should be like the military. We pay 4 years of school, you owe us 4 years of work in the state. Or pay back the scholly.
This and required to pay TOPS back if you don't finish school.
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