[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-266640-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-266640-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","qualifying-for-tops-qa","Qualifying for TOPS - Q&A","","Answers explain how Louisiana students qualify for the TOPS program, including steps to apply and requirements tied to federal aid eligibility. The guidance covers application methods (FAFSA and TOPS online application), certification topics such as citizenship and residency, and special risk during budget shortfalls. It also details deadlines based on graduation timing, minimum ACT and SAT qualification rules, and minimum GPA thresholds, including the difference between TOPS Core GPA and cumulative GPA calculations.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/qualifying-for-tops-qa/266640/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/qualifying-for-tops-qa/266640.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Jiven","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-20","2026-09-14",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",10,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"How do students apply for a TOPS award?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Students generally complete the FAFSA unless they can show they do not qualify for federal grant aid (Pell Grant). Students who do not qualify may submit the TOPS On-Line Application on the LOSFA website and certify citizenship, residency, and criminal conviction status.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What is the deadline for applying for TOPS?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Eligibility depends on when the application is submitted relative to high school graduation. Submissions by July 1 following graduation allow payments starting the fall immediately after graduation; later submission dates reduce the number of semesters eligible.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What are the minimum ACT scores and is the writing portion included?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Minimum ACT scores differ by TOPS award type (Tech, Opportunity, Performance, Honors) and separate schedules apply for BESE-approved home-study and for out-of-state or out-of-country high school graduates meeting residency. The ACT writing portion is not considered.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},266640,1789409962,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,115,120,123,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":55,"slug":125},"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":33,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":55},1099513958607,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/100002390cf8733938c?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1778829742770036399","Qualifying for TOPS  \nQuestion: How do I apply for TOPS?  \nAnswer: Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unless they can demonstrate that they do not qualify for federal grant aid (Pell Grant) . We recommend that all students submit the FAFSA. The most direct way to file the FAFSA is via the Internet at [www.fafsa.ed.gov](www.fafsa.ed.gov. The paper FAFSA may also be used)[. The paper FAFSA may also be used](www.fafsa.ed.gov. The paper FAFSA may also be used).  \nStudents who can demonstrate that they do not qualify for federal grant aid may submit the TOPS On-Line Application on the LOSFA website ( [https://osfantweb.osfa.state.la.us/TOPSPort.nsf/](https://osfantweb.osfa.state.la.us/TOPSPort.nsf/) ). The On-Line  \nApplication requires students to certify that they do not qualify for federal grant aid, and to certify their citizenship, residency and criminal conviction status.  \nThose students who apply for TOPS by submitting the TOPS On-Line Application will be the first to lose their award in the event of a budget shortfall.  \nFor additional information, please consult the TOPS Q&A on the web at [https://osfantweb.osfa.state.la.us/TOPS_Q_and_A.pdf](https://osfantweb.osfa.state.la.us/TOPS_Q_and_A.pdf).  \nQuestion: What is the deadline for applying for TOPS?  \nAnswer: Students submitting applications for a TOPS award by July 1st following the student’s graduation from high school will be eligible for payments beginning with the Fall semester immediately following their high school graduation.  \nStudents submitting applications from July 2nd of the year of graduation through July 1st of the following year will be eligible for TOPS payments beginning with the Fall semester of the next academic year and will be eligible for the full 8 semesters ofthe award.  \nStudents submitting applications from July 2nd of the year following the year of high school graduation through August 30th of that same year will be eligible for TOPS payments beginning in the Fall of the next academic year, but will be eligible for only 7 semesters ofTOPS funding.  \nStudents submitting applications from August 31st through October 29th of the year following the year of high school graduation will be eligible for only 6 semesters ofTOPS payments beginning with the Fall semester of the next academic year.  \nFor additional information, please consult the TOPS Q&A on the web at [https://osfantweb.osfa.state.la.us/TOPS_Q_and_A.pdf](https://osfantweb.osfa.state.la.us/TOPS_Q_and_A.pdf).  \nQuestion: What is the minimum ACT score required for a TOPS award?  \nAnswer: For all Louisiana high school graduates, the minimum ACT scores required are: 17 for the TOPS Tech award, 20 for the TOPS Opportunity award, 23 for the Performance Award or 27 for the TOPS Honors award. The writing portion of the ACT is not considered.  \nFor students who have completed a BESE-approved home-study curriculum, the minimum ACT scores required are: 19 for the TOPS Tech award, 22 for the TOPS Opportunity award, 24 for the TOPS Performance award or 28 for the TOPS Honors award.  \nFor students graduating from an out-of-state high school, and who meet Louisiana residency requirements, the minimum ACT scored scores required are: 20 for the TOPS Tech award, 23 for the TOPS Opportunity award, 26 for the TOPS Performance award and 30 for the TOPS Honors award.  \nStudents graduating from an out-of-country high school must meet the same ACT scores as the out-of-state high school graduates. However, they will not be eligible for the Performance or Honors awards if the Louisiana residency requirement is met based on a parent who is a Louisiana resident living outside the United States who actively engaged in work or another activity on behalf of a Louisiana sponsor or employer after having lived in Louisiana at least 24 months prior to starting work out of the country.  \nA student who has not taken the ACT may use a qualifying score on the SAT. The SAT composite scor","cbCaijEVY6CkvsR5","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijEVY6CkvsR5","pdf",28670,"English","# Applying for TOPS\n## Application methods and requirements\n## Application deadlines\n# Academic qualification requirements\n## Minimum ACT scores\n## Minimum GPA for TOPS awards\n## TOPS Core GPA vs. Cumulative GPA","[{\"question\":\"How do students apply for a TOPS award?\",\"answer\":\"Students generally complete the FAFSA unless they can show they do not qualify for federal grant aid (Pell Grant). Students who do not qualify may submit the TOPS On-Line Application on the LOSFA website and certify citizenship, residency, and criminal conviction status.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the deadline for applying for TOPS?\",\"answer\":\"Eligibility depends on when the application is submitted relative to high school graduation. Submissions by July 1 following graduation allow payments starting the fall immediately after graduation; later submission dates reduce the number of semesters eligible.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the minimum ACT scores and is the writing portion included?\",\"answer\":\"Minimum ACT scores differ by TOPS award type (Tech, Opportunity, Performance, Honors) and separate schedules apply for BESE-approved home-study and for out-of-state or out-of-country high school graduates meeting residency. The ACT writing portion is not considered.\"}]","Qualifying for TOPS - Q&A | PDF"]