re: Why do Louisiana conservatives like TOPS?

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I have known someone who received most of his TOPs check, since his education was paid for by an academic scholarship. Any monies received over and above school expenses should have to be repaid to the state.

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My understanding (though I could be wrong) is that they cap this at the “total cost of attendance”. You can receive a check every semester and still have it be part of your cost of attendance, which includes housing and textbooks etc.

Example: I had an academic scholarship at LSU plus the highest TOPS stipend. I received something like $250 every semester after my fee bill was paid, which almost covered the cost of textbooks.

TOPS allowed me to go to college without student loans. I have lived in the state ever since. From what I’ve read, there have been no actual studies on the percentage of TOPS recipients leaving the state after graduation. If anyone else knows of such a study I would be curious to see the data.