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re: Lawmakers advance bill requiring TOPS repayment for students who lose scholarships
Posted on 4/15/26 at 8:43 am to DrrTiger
Posted on 4/15/26 at 8:43 am to DrrTiger
Louisiana is not SERIOUS about saving money for education until the close down SUNO. Nothing offered at SUNO is not offered at UNO or Delgado.
0
Posted on 4/15/26 at 8:45 am to Clames
quote:
Any idea how many recoupment actions are taken against those who get ROTC scholarships then decide that 8-year MSO is too inconvenient?
This obviously isn't the same thing.
quote:
Any idea how many private scholarships and academic grants have clauses for repayment in the event of misuse of the money?
This obviously isn't the same thing.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:11 am to Clames
LSU is mid-pack in SEC tuition rates.
Vandy is at the top, of course.
Vandy is at the top, of course.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:13 am to DrrTiger
I realized this was a problem after my first semester at LSU. Why are taxpayers paying tuition for a bunch of dropouts?
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:19 am to GreatLakesTiger24
quote:
I realized this was a problem after my first semester at LSU. Why are taxpayers paying tuition for a bunch of dropouts?
Assume the original idea over 25 years ago was the net gain of an educated population/work force
This post was edited on 4/15/26 at 9:20 am
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:21 am to danilo
Yeah, that was Pat's intention.
A good man, who saw a significant issue and did his absolute best to try and fix it.
A good man, who saw a significant issue and did his absolute best to try and fix it.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:23 am to DrrTiger
What % of students on TOPS complete their degree?
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:32 am to fightin tigers
quote:
Yeah, adjust the wording. It isn’t that hard of a concept. Stop giving free money to failure.
They aren’t. When you fail, you no longer qualify and don’t get any money.
Even with the VA benefits you don’t have to pay back money from two years ago if you fail.
I can see you having to pay back maybe that semester or that class, I can agree on that, but no way you should be financially liable for classes you took freshman year and passed because you failed a class your sophomore or junior year.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:34 am to danilo
There is another bill aiming to address TOPs that I like a better, in which it converts the first year of TOPS into a loan, and it will be only be forgiven if you graduate in 5 years
for the bill in the OP, one of the exemptions is drug addiction, which seems like an insane exemption
for the bill in the OP, one of the exemptions is drug addiction, which seems like an insane exemption
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:40 am to Salmon
I think we’ve gotten to the point of everyone just expects TOPS instead of earning it.
I remember when I graduated (like 20years ago) you had to have a 3.0 in core classes only so you couldn’t pad your GPA with four PE classes or anything and I believe you needed a 21 on ACT.
I remember when I graduated (like 20years ago) you had to have a 3.0 in core classes only so you couldn’t pad your GPA with four PE classes or anything and I believe you needed a 21 on ACT.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:41 am to brass2mouth
quote:
I can see you having to pay back maybe that semester or that class, I can agree on that,
That works for me too. Keeping just to repaying the failures is sufficient for now.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:42 am to brass2mouth
the bottom level TOPs requirements are insanely low IMO
I realize that it doesn't pay out that much, but a 2.5 GPA and 20 ACT score is not hard in HS
I realize that it doesn't pay out that much, but a 2.5 GPA and 20 ACT score is not hard in HS
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:43 am to brass2mouth
I graduated in 2003. It was 20 back then
Posted on 4/15/26 at 9:59 am to Salmon
quote:
for the bill in the OP, one of the exemptions is drug addiction, which seems like an insane exemption
Pay back 30k or do some drugs? Give me the drugs
Posted on 4/15/26 at 10:32 am to Salmon
quote:
the bottom level TOPs requirements are insanely low IMO I realize that it doesn't pay out that much, but a 2.5 GPA and 20 ACT score is not hard in HS
Totally.
It’s just become LA govt welfare for colleges at this point. It needs to be for kids who put in the work and earned it.
3.0 and a 24 on the ACT should be the minimum.
I know not everyone is a good test taker and in cases like that where a student only gets a 20/21 on the ACT but a 3.5/4.0 in their classes is a good way to alleviate those students from not qualifying. Kids maintained a GPA like that shows they understand the material just may not take standardized tests well.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 10:34 am to DrrTiger
I think forfeiting the scholarship is punishment enough. There’s no need to force repayment. I would rather them raise requirements to get it than make it punitive.
This post was edited on 4/15/26 at 10:35 am
Posted on 4/15/26 at 11:13 am to DrrTiger
I never heard of this
Posted on 4/15/26 at 11:16 am to DrrTiger
TOPS should be treated like a loan. If you graduate your loan is paid off in full. If you drop out for stupid reasons or can’t make grades then you must pay it back.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 11:34 am to brass2mouth
quote:
everyone just expects TOPS i
Especially LSU.
A major chunk of that $320M goes to them.
They have 0 interest in making TOPS requirements more difficult.
Their admissions standards, until recently, had gotten insanely low.
Posted on 4/15/26 at 11:39 am to Clark W Griswold
I'm curious about the cost of enforcement vs how much the State expects back. The answer? Nobody knows.
quote:
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
The proposed legislation will likely result in an increase in SGF expenditures by the Board of Regents as a result of requiring
the repayment of Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) awards for not maintaining continuing eligibility
requirements. The exact increase is indeterminable because it is unknown how much programming costs will be to modify
the Louisiana Award System and how many positions the Board of Regents will require to handle the repayment status of
students.
The Board of Regents will also likely need additional staff to handle duties such as tracking students who enter repayment
status, determining eligibility for deferment or exception, and processing and tracking payments. The exact number of
additional personnel is indeterminable at this time and will depend on the number of students who do not maintain eligibility
and must repay TOPS awards.
The LFO has requested additional information from the Board of Regents to determine the expenditure impact
of the proposed law. This note will be updated when additional information becomes available.
The proposed legislation will likely result in an increase in state revenue as a result of students repaying TOPS awards.
Proposed legislation does not specify where repayment revenue would be deposited. Since TOPS is funded through a
combination of State General Fund and the TOPS Fund (Statutory Dedications), the LFO presumes repayments would be
deposited into the TOPS Fund. The exact increase in Statutory Dedication revenue is indeterminable since it is unknown how
many students will not maintain eligibility and how much would be collected in repayments of TOPS awards.
REVENUE EXPLANATION
The proposed legislation will likely result in an increase in state revenue as a result of students repaying TOPS awards.
Proposed legislation does not specify where repayment revenue would be deposited. Since TOPS is funded through a
combination of State General Fund and the TOPS Fund (Statutory Dedications), the LFO presumes repayments would be
deposited into the TOPS Fund. The exact increase in Statutory Dedication revenue is indeterminable since it is unknown how
many students will not maintain eligibility and how much would be collected in repayments of TOPS awards.
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