A Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) encourages families to apply early for the FAFSA; applications now being accepted
LOSFA is urging high school seniors to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1, and not wait until graduation approaches.

Filing early allows students and their parents to see how much financial aid they qualify for, so they can begin to plan out additional ways to pay for a college education.

Click below to see LOSFA's recent interview with WVLA on why it's important to file early and what steps students should take to avoid making errors on the FAFSA.
Governor suspends certain TOPS rules for students affected by Hurricane Laura
Governor John Bel Edwards signed Proclamation Number 124 JBE 2020 in September, which suspended certain requirements of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).

The proclamation addresses concerns for current college students who receive a TOPS award, 2020 high school graduates trying to achieve a qualifying ACT score for TOPS purposes, and residency requirements for current high school students.

Click the button below to read the specifics of the proclamation.
Improving access to higher education: Initiatives to help more students geaux to college
In this article, Dr. Ashley Clayton, an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at Louisiana State University, discusses college achievement in Louisiana. The number of people who have an associate's degree or higher in Louisiana is behind the national average. With more than half of jobs in Louisiana requiring more than a high school diploma, it is important to invest in higher education.
The article includes state resources for those interested in going back to college or those who would like to enroll (but are not enrolling directly from high school).

For high school students, Dr. Clayton highlights two campaigns LOSFA is involved with: #WhyApply Day and Louisiana College Application and Access Month (LCAAM).

Click the button below to read more.
Granville: Louisiana’s FAFSA requirement for HS students offers lessons in college access and equity for other states
The 74, a non-profit group reporting on education in America, recently published an article on the importance of connecting low-income students with resources to complete the FAFSA - particularly because estimates indicate that billions in federal aid go unclaimed every year.

The article highlights Louisiana being the first state to require FAFSA completion as a graduation requirement and providing resources to guide students through the process. For example, state staff increased the number of FAFSA completion workshops held at high schools around the state. This not only allowed for individual help completing the FAFSA but also gave way to discussions about the college access process.

The writer suggests during these uncertain times, Louisiana's efforts offer lessons to other states on how to approach college access.

Click the button below to read the story.
Compete LA doubles down on effort to help thousands of Louisiana adults re-enroll in and finish college
Compete LA, an initiative by the University of Louisiana System to produce 150,000 new college graduates statewide by 2025, announced a new effort called Compete LA Academy. The Academy will be an online community to allow students more flexibility in returning to college and pursuing a degree.

StraighterLine, a company that partners with colleges to provide affordable competency-based college readiness and re-entry programs, has partnered with the UL System for the Compete LA Academy.

Tuition for the Compete LA Academy is $150 per month and includes access to e-textbooks, online tutoring, coaching, and other support services.

Interested students can learn more and enroll by clicking here. 

Louisiana GEAR UP has partnered with Complete LA to offer former students, who have Rewards for Success funds remaining from their time as a student in the Louisiana GEAR UP program, a way to complete their college degree.
Shared on Social Media
On September 18, LOSFA partnered with the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) for #WhyApply Day, a social media campaign to highlight the importance of completing a college application.

Throughout the day, LOSFA staff and our partners shared their reasons for why they applied to college. Miss Louisiana USA, Mariah Clayton (pictured below), partnered with LOSFA on several initiatives as part of her platform to inspire young students to overcome any obstacles they may face.

Whether a student chooses a college degree, certification, high-value credential or military training, we want them to know pursuing an education after high school is a step toward securing a prosperous future.

#WhyApply Day not only celebrates the fall college application season but also encourages students - particularly first-generation and low-income students to complete a college application.

In Louisiana, #WhyApply Day led up to Louisiana College Application and Access Month (LCAAM) this month. During LCAAM (which is virtual this year due to COVID-19), LOSFA staff assist high school seniors in navigating the college admissions process by completing at least one college application. LOSFA is providing resources for students who choose the military path.
Other Related News
Coronavirus hasn't hurt Louisiana college enrollment; most report increases for fall
Following the uncertainty that COVID-19 brought to the Spring 2020 semester, some colleges and universities were concerned about what enrollment numbers would look like in the Fall 2020 semester.

The Louisiana Board of Regents, which oversees Louisiana's colleges and universities, will soon have enrollment totals, but according to the article, several institutions have reported increases. The state's flagship university and Northwestern State University have reported the largest classes in their histories, and Nicholls State reported its largest class since 1990.

Click the button below to read why UL's System President believes Louisiana went against the national trend.
LSU improves ranking among public colleges in latest
U. S. News & World Report list
U.S. News and World Report has released its 2021 Best Colleges list.

The report ranks more than 300 institutions on graduation rates and faculty resources, which indicate academic quality. There are four categories colleges and universities can be ranked in: National Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities, and Regional Colleges.

LSU is tied at 153 on the national universities list. On the same list, Tulane University is ranked at 41.

To see how other Louisiana colleges and universities rank, click here to see the report.
Grambling’s Cloud Computing Program draws national interest
Grambling State University has launched its Cloud Computing Program, the first of its kind in Louisiana.

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of services (data storage, servers, databases, networking, etc.) through the Internet, or 'the cloud.'

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has pledged its support to Grambling's computer science program, through its AWS Educate program. The company plans to guide the program to ensure students have the skills necessary for the workplace and support faculty with technical training and professional development.

The Louisiana Technical and Community College System is working to develop a two-year Cloud Computing curriculum that will bridge to Grambling's four-year program.

Click the button below to read more.
About LOSFA
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), a program of the Louisiana Board of Regents, strives to be Louisiana's first choice for college access by promoting, preparing for and providing equity of college access.