Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 28 - EDUCATION
Part IV - Student Financial Assistance-Higher Education Scholarship and Grant Programs
Chapter 5 - Applications, Federal Grant Aid and ACT Test
Section IV-501 - Initial Application

1. Except as provided in Subparagraph A.2.b below, all new applicants for Louisiana scholarship and grant programs must apply for federal aid by completing the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) for the academic year following the year the student graduated from high school. For example, if the student will graduate from high school in school year 2002-2003, submit the 2003-2004 version of the FAFSA.

2. All new applicants for TOPS Opportunity, Performance, Honors and TOPS-Tech Awards who graduate from high school during the 2001-2002 or 2002-2003 academic years (high school) must apply for federal aid by completing the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) for the academic year (TOPS) the applicant will be a first-time, full-time student. For example, if the applicant will graduate from high school in the 2002-2003 academic year (high school) and does not intend to enroll as a first-time, full-time student until the fall semester of 2004, he must submit the 2004-2005 version of the FAFSA.

1. Students who graduate from a Louisiana public high school as defined in §1703. A 1, an approved Louisiana non-public school as defined in §1701. A 2, or an eligible non-Louisiana public school as defined in §1701. A.3 must:

2. Students who graduate from an eligible out-of-state or out-of-country high school or complete a home study program approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or enroll for the first time as a fulltime student in an out-of-state college or university following graduation from an eligible high school (Louisiana public high school as defined in §1703. A 1, an approved Louisiana non-public school as defined in §1701. A 2, an eligible non-Louisiana public school as defined in §1701. A 3, out-of-state high school as defined by §1701. A.4 or an out-of-country high school as defined by §1701. A.5 must:

3. Eligible non-graduates must:

4. Applicants for TOPS Opportunity, Performance and Honors Awards and TOPS-Tech Awards who submit the online application in lieu of the FAFSA or who do not complete all sections of the FAFSA will be ineligible for federal grant aid and federally guaranteed student loans.

5. In the event of a budgetary shortfall, applicants for TOPS Opportunity, Performance and Honors Awards and TOPS-Tech Awards who submit the on-line application in lieu of the FAFSA or who do not complete all sections of the FAFSA will be the first denied a TOPS Award.

1. All new applicants for Louisiana scholarship and grant programs other than TOPS and the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship must apply for federal grant aid by completing the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) for the academic year following the year the student graduated from high school. For example, if the student will graduate from high school in school year 2003-2004, submit the 2004-2005 version of the FAFSA.

2. All new applicants for the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship must apply for federal grant aid by submitting the FAFSA so that it is received no later than July 1 immediately preceding the academic year (college) for which the scholarship is sought. For example, if the student wants to apply for a Rockefeller Scholarship to be awarded during the 2005-2006 academic year (college), submit the 2005-2006 version of the FAFSA no later than July 1, 2005.