A Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents
LOSFA Mentions
According to the National College Attainment Network's (NCAN) FAFSA Tracker, as of May 21, 2021, Louisiana ranks #1 in FAFSA Completion! 
 
NCAN data shows 70.9% (33,134) of Louisiana's 2021 high school graduates have completed their FAFSA. That's a change of -2.0% (-688) completions compared to this same time last year. 
LOFSA ‘529 Day’ campaign highlights the importance of saving for education
Throughout May, LOSFA celebrated 529 Day with a series of social media activities that included scavenger hunts, drawings from students about what their college will look like, videos from younger students about future careers, why college is important, and how saving money helps make college possible.

LOSFA's newest partner, Upromise, a leading consumer brand that offers cashback rewards to help families save for college, also made weekly posts about why saving early is important.

These activities increase awareness of Louisiana's START saving plans and the importance of a college education - whether community college, four-year degree, credential or trade.

LOSFA's Director of START Programs, Terri Underwood, and Public Information Officer, Brandi Morrison, were interviewed by BR Proud (WVLA) about 529 Day and the partnership with Upromise.
SOWELA accepting TOPS Tech Award scholarships for Louisiana students interested in technical degree fields
SOWELA has long accepted the TOPS Tech Award and is reminding eligible students the award can be used at their institution. Recently, WalletHub ranked SOWELA as Louisiana’s top community college for the third straight year. SOWELA was also found to have the highest retention rate among community and technical colleges. 

The TOPS Tech Award is offered to qualified high school graduates. It provides up to two years of skill or occupational training at an accredited Louisiana institution with a vocational or technical education certificate.

SOWELA has 30 technical and academic programs, including Aviation Maintenance Technology, Industrial Electrical Technology, Welding, Vehicle Maintenance Technology, Forest Technology, Sterile Processing and Practical Nursing (LPN).

To apply, students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive TOPS credit on their fee bill.

Click here to read where the TOPS Tech Award can be used.

See the image below for standard eligibility requirements to qualify for the TOPS Tech Award.
Social Media
How much do our younger students know about college? What are their ideas about the future? Where do they want to go to college? What do they know about saving money?

Those are some of the questions posed to our youth panel during 529 month.

Experts with Edvisors say parents should introduce the idea of college during the elementary years and let them know how attending a postsecondary institution can further their aspirations. The elementary years are also a great time to begin conversations about money, so children understand college costs later.

Click the graphic above to hear what our panel had to say!
Other Related News
Almost half of 2020 college grads still looking for work:
"I should be out of the house by now"
While 2020 graduates are still looking for employment, 2021 college graduates say they are now competing for the same entry-level positions. Economists say that the market has become crowded with workers laid off due to the pandemic and businesses shutting down.

According to a recent survey from the employment site Monster, 45 percent of 2020 graduates said they are still looking for work.

Marie Robert, a 2021 graduate from the College of the Holy Cross, says she was fortunate to be hired by GE Healthcare, but employment will not take effect until the end of this year - after the 2020 hires have completed their training (delayed because of COVID). 

Many students say they continue to fill out applications. Some have completed more than 25, many of those without responses. Others have turned to graduate school to delay entering the job market and further their knowledge. 
Why applications and enrollment are spiking at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have reported record enrollment, declaring this year a success in admissions.

Many of these new students come from families who are beginning to figure out what they can afford to pay towards a postsecondary degree, in addition to the aid institutions are offering.

The article also suggests the increase can be traced to racial tensions within the past year. Students reported they want a safe space where they feel supported and respected.

Networking is another reason for the increase in admissions. The article says students saw networking in the spotlight from politicians like Stacey Abrams (Spelman College) and Vice President Kamala Harris (Howard University).

Click here to read a similar article from Insider Higher Ed.
More than half of community colleges are not affordable for low-income students
A recent analysis by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) found that during the 2018-2019 academic year, only 41 percent of community colleges were affordable for students receiving a Pell Grant. That's a decrease from the 2014-2015 year when 49 percent of community colleges were affordable.

NCAN says the analysis shows how college is becoming unaffordable for Pell Grant recipients.

The statistics were much lower for public four-year colleges, where just 23 percent were affordable for Pell-eligible students. Even so, those students had a $2,524 gap.

This article follows two community college students who are working to balance the cost of education and life.

Click here to read more about college affordability.

Click here to read NCAN's analysis, The Growing Gap: Public Higher Education's Declining Affordability for Pell Grant Recipients.
The cost of doing nothing
A new report, The Cost of Economic and Racial Injustice in Postsecondary Education, by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce says the U.S. is losing billions each year due to inequities in higher education.

According to the report, those who earn in the top 60 percent have at least an associate degree or higher, while only 28 percent of earners in the bottom 40 percent have a credential. The study further breaks down the numbers based on race, finding 46 percent of white Americans have a postsecondary degree, compared to 31 percent of black Americans and 21 percent of Americans of Latin descent (Latinx). 

The report hints that if those in the bottom percent attained college degrees at the same rate as those in the top, it could equal better wages, lower incarceration rates, and better health outcomes. All of which could save billions of dollars on the criminal justice system and public assistance programs.

The report does recognize that receiving a degree or credential cannot change things like wage gaps. Still, the co-author suggests that this report sends a message about the inequalities in higher education, K-12 education, and the labor market.

To read the report, click here.
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.