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-505 - Application Deadlines for High School Graduates and Home Study Completers of 2004 and Later and Eligible Non-Graduates

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code IV-505

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 3, March 20, 2024

1. To be considered for a TOPS Award, students who graduate from high school or complete an approved home study program in 2004 or later and eligible non-graduates must:

a. apply for federal grant aid by submitting a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA); or

b. if the student can demonstrate that he does not qualify for federal grant aid because of his family's financial condition, submit the initial FAFSA after completing all applicable sections except those sections related to the income and assets of the student and the student's parents; or

c. complete the on-line application.

2. TOPS will not pay the award amount for any student who has not met the requirements of §505. A.1 above.

3. 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 or who do not complete all sections of the FAFSA will be the first denied a TOPS Award.

B. Deadline for Payment for the Academic Year (TOPS) Immediately Following High School Graduation

1. Beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year (TOPS), to be determined eligible for payment of TOPS Awards for the academic year (TOPS) immediately following the academic year (high school) of high school graduation, students must submit the initial FAFSA or online application so that it is received no later than the July 1 immediately following the academic year (high school) of graduation.

2. Beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year (TOPS), students will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E beginning with the academic year (TOPS) immediately after the student's one year anniversary of high school graduation if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after the July 1 immediately following the academic year (high school) of high school graduation and no later than the final deadline set forth in Subsection C, below, and if the student was enrolled during the preceding academic year (TOPS), the student has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

a. Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year (TOPS), students whose initial FAFSA or on-line application is received on or before July 1 immediately following the one year anniversary of high school graduation will receive payment of their TOPS Award as provided in §701. E beginning with the first semester, quarter or term the student enrolls for the first time as a full-time student in an eligible college or university; provided that no payment of a TOPS Award shall be made until the initial FAFSA or on-line application has been received and the applicant has been determined eligible for a TOPS Award.

b. If the initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1 immediately following high school graduation, the payment of the TOPS Award could be delayed depending on the date the application is received and the date the student enrolls for the first time as a full time student in an eligible college or university.

c. A student who enrolls for the first time as a full time student before his FAFSA or on-line application is received must meet the requirements for maintaining eligibility in §705 to receive payments of his TOPS Award after the first semester, quarter or term of full time enrollment at an eligible college or university.

4. Examples

a. A 2009-2010 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who enrolls in the fall semester of 2010, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award beginning the fall semester of 2010 if the initial FAFSA or on-line application is received on or before July 1, 2010.

b. A 2009-2010 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who enrolls during the 2010-2011 academic year, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award beginning the fall semester of 2010 if the initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2011, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

C. Final Deadline for Full TOPS Award

a. Except as provided below, through the 2006-2007 academic year (TOPS), in order to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E, the final deadline for receipt of a student's initial FAFSA or the on-line application is July 1 immediately prior to the academic year (TOPS) he first enrolls as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university.

b. Beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year (TOPS), in order receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E, the final deadline for receipt of a student's initial FAFSA or on-line application is July 1 immediately prior to the academic year (TOPS) immediately following the one-year anniversary of high school graduation.

i. Students who graduated from high school during the 2003-2004 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS) are eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E beginning:

(a). with the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received no later than October 29, 2004;

(b). with the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received after October 29, 2004, and no later than July 1, 2005, and, if the student enrolled as a full-time student during the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS), the student has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

ii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2003-2004 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university beginning the fall semester of 2005 are eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E beginning the fall semester of 2005 if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received no later than July 1, 2005.

iii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2003-2004 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during either the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS) or fall semester of 2005 are eligible for a reduced TOPS Award (see Subsection 505. D below) beginning with the fall semester of 2005, if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received after July 1, 2005 and no later than October 31, 2005, and, if the student enrolled as a full-time student during the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS), the student has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

i. Students who graduated from high school during the 2004-2005 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS) will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E beginning:

(a). with the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than October 31, 2005;

(b). with the 2006-2007 academic year (TOPS) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 31, 2005, and no later than July 1, 2006, and, if the student enrolled as a full-time student during the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS), the student met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

ii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2004-2005 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university beginning the fall semester of 2006 are eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E beginning the fall semester of 2006 if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received no later than July 1, 2006.

iii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2004-2005 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during either the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS) or fall semester of 2006 are eligible for a reduced TOPS Award (see Subsection 505. D, below) beginning with the fall semester of 2006, if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received after July 1, 2006, and no later than October 30, 2006, and, if the student enrolled as a full-time student during the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS), the student met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

i. Students who graduate from high school during the 2005-2006 academic year (high school) and enroll as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during the 2006-2007 academic year (TOPS) will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E beginning:

(a). with the 2006-2007 academic year (TOPS) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than October 30, 2006;

(b). with the 2007-2008 academic year (TOPS) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 30, 2006, and no later than July 1, 2007, and, if the student enrolled as a full-time student during the 2006-2007 academic year (TOPS), the student met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

ii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2005-2006 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university beginning the fall semester of 2007 are eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E beginning the fall semester of 2007 if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received no later than July 1, 2007.

iii. Students who graduate from high school during the 2005-2006 academic year (high school) and enroll as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during either the 2006-2007 academic year (TOPS) or the fall semester of 2007 are eligible for a reduced TOPS Award (see Subsection 505. D, below) beginning with the fall semester of 2007, if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2007, and no later than October 29, 2007, and, if the student enrolled as a full-time student during the 2006-2007 academic year (TOPS), the student met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

2. Returning Students

a. Beginning with the 2002-2003 through the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS), in order for a returning student to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E, the final deadline for receipt of a student's initial FAFSA or the on-line application is May 1 of the academic year (TOPS) he first enrolls as a full-time student in an eligible college or university.

b. Beginning with the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS), in order for a returning student to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701. E, the final deadline for receipt of the student's initial FAFSA or the online application is the July 1 immediately following the academic year (TOPS) he first enrolls as a full-time student in an eligible college or university.

3. Examples

a. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2004 or spring semester of 2005, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or online application is received no later than July 1, 2004.

b. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2004 or spring semester of 2005, will be eligible for his full TOPS Award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2004, but on or before October 29, 2004.

c. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2004 or spring semester of 2005, will be eligible for his full TOPS Award beginning with the fall semester of 2005 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 29, 2004, but on or before July 1, 2005, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

d. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2005.

e. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005, will be eligible for a reduced TOPS Award (see Subsection 505. D below) beginning with the fall semester of 2005 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2005, but on or before October 31, 2005.

f. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005, will not be eligible for a TOPS Award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 31, 2005.

g. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005 or spring semester of 2006, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or online application is received no later than July 1, 2005.

h. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005 or spring semester of 2006, will be eligible for his full TOPS Award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2005, but on or before October 31, 2005.

i. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005 or spring semester of 2006, will be eligible for his full TOPS Award beginning with the fall semester of 2006 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 31, 2005, but on or before July 1, 2006, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

j. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2006.

k. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006, will be eligible for a reduced TOPS Award (see Subsection 505. D below) beginning with the fall semester of 2006 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2006, but on or before October 30, 2006.

l. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006, will not be eligible for a TOPS Award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 30, 2006.

m. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006 or spring semester of 2007, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or online application is received no later than July 1, 2006.

n. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006 or spring semester of 2007, will be eligible for his full TOPS Award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2006, but on or before October 30, 2006.

o. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006 or spring semester of 2007, will be eligible for his full TOPS Award beginning with the fall semester of 2007 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 30, 2006, but on or before July 1, 2007, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

p. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2007.

q. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007, will be eligible for a reduced TOPS Award (see Subsection 505. D below) beginning with the fall semester of 2007 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2007, but on or before October 29, 2007.

r. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007, will not be eligible for a TOPS Award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 29, 2007.

s. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007 or spring semester of 2008, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or online application is received no later than July 1, 2007.

t. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007 or spring semester of 2008, will be eligible to receive his full TOPS Award beginning with the fall semester of 2008 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2007, but on or before July 1, 2008, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.

u. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2008, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2008.

v. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2008, will be eligible for a reduced TOPS Award (see Subsection 505. D below) beginning with the fall semester of 2008 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2008, but on or before October 29, 2008.

w. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2008, will not be eligible for a TOPS Award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 29, 2008.

x. A student, who enrolls for the first time as a full time student at an accredited out-of-state college and subsequently returns to Louisiana and enrolls as a full-time student in an eligible college or university for the fall semester of 2006, will be eligible for his TOPS Award beginning with the fall semester of 2006 if his initial FAFSA or the on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2007.

4. Students must also meet the first-time freshman enrollment deadlines specified in §703. A.4 (TOPS Opportunity, Performance and Honors) and §803. A.4 (TOPS-Tech).

5. Notwithstanding the deadline established by §505. C above, students who enter on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces have a final deadline for receipt of their initial FAFSA application or their on-line application of one year from the date of separation from active duty. In order to be eligible under this Subsection, the student must meet the requirements of §703. A.4.b or d or §803. A.4.b or d of these rules and must not have been discharged with an undesirable, bad conduct or dishonorable discharge.

D. Final Deadlines for Reduced Awards

1. If an application for an initial award under this Chapter is received after the final deadline provided in §503. C above, but not later than 60 days after that deadline, the time period of eligibility for the award shall be reduced by one semester, two quarters, or an equivalent number of units at an eligible institution which operates on a schedule based on units other than semesters or quarters.

2. If an application for an initial award under this Chapter is received more than 60 days after the final deadline provided in §503. C above, but not later than 120 days after that deadline, the time period of eligibility for the award shall be reduced by two semesters or three quarters, or an equivalent number of units at an eligible institution which operates on a schedule based on units other than semesters or quarters.

3. A FAFSA or on-line application received more than 120 days after the published deadline shall not be considered.

E. The reduction of the student's period of eligibility for this award under §505. D above shall not be cumulative with any reduction under §509. C.

F. Renewal FAFSA

a. Through the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS), in order to remain eligible for TOPS Awards, a student who is eligible for federal grant aid must file a renewal FAFSA so that it is received by May 1 of each academic year (TOPS) after initial eligibility is established.

b. Beginning with the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS), in order to remain eligible for TOPS Awards, a student who is eligible for federal grant aid must file a renewal FAFSA so that it is received by the July 1 immediately preceding each academic year (TOPS) after initial eligibility is established.

2. Students who can demonstrate that they do not qualify for federal grant aid because of their family's financial condition are not required to submit a renewal FAFSA.

3. All recipients of Louisiana scholarship and grant programs other than TOPS and the Rockefeller Wildlife Scholarship Program must submit a renewal FAFSA for each academic year (TOPS) the student enrolls.

G. If a prescribed deadline date falls on a weekend or holiday, it will automatically be extended to the next business day.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3031, R.S. 17:3042.1 and R.S. 17:5001 et seq.

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