Louisiana Student Loans And Financial Aid Programs
There are several Louisiana student loan and financial aid programs that can help you pay for college. If you're going to be attending college in Louisiana, you need to be looking to take advantage of these programs.
These programs are designed to help make college more affordable - so that you can get the education you need. These programs can include scholarships, grants, and student loans.
Don't forget that there are Federal student loan programs available as well. You can find out more on how to get a Federal student loan here.
There is also a specific order of operations to pay for college that we recommend students follow. These programs specific to the State of Louisiana can help you to avoid borrowing more money than you need to.
Louisiana Student Loan Programs
Louisiana doesn't have any unique student loan programs to help it's students pay for college. However, there are still Federal student loans available to students who attend college in Louisiana.
If you're just looking for private student loan options, we recommend:
- Credible - Like the Kayak of student loans, they help you shop around and compare options. Try Credible here.
- College Ave - One of the best private student loan lenders. Get A Quote At College Ave Here.
For more student loan options, check out our list of the best private student loan lenders.
Louisiana Scholarship Programs
Louisiana has several scholarships available to students who want to attend college in the state of Louisiana.
Louisiana Geaux Teach Program
The Geaux Teach scholarship program was established to provide scholarships to students who are enrolled in teacher preparation programs or alternate certification programs approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) at postsecondary education institutions within the state.
The maximum annual award is $5,000. Scholarship awards shall be applicable only to the cost of tuition, required fees, and textbooks and instructional materials required for the course of study. The award shall be used only after all other state or institutional financial aid and awards are applied and only for any remaining balance due for tuition, required fees, and textbooks and instructional materials required for the course of study.
Learn more about the Louisiana Geaux Teach Program here.
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend either one of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities, schools that are a part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Louisiana approved Proprietary and Cosmetology Schools or institutions that are a part of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
There are four different awards:
- TOPS Opportunity Award
- TOPS Performance Award
- TOPS Honors Award
- TOPS Tech Award
Learn more about the TOPS Award Program here.
Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship
The Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship is a competitive scholarship that awards $2,000 annually for an undergraduate student and $3,000 annually to a graduate student pursuing a degree in forestry, wildlife or marine science at a Louisiana Public College or University.
The cumulative maximum award is $12,000 for up to three years of undergraduate study and two years of graduate study.
Learn more about the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship.
Louisiana Grant Programs
Louisiana also has a grant program to provide need based financial aid to Louisiana residents.
Grants are one of the best forms of financial aid because, in most circumstances, you don't have to pay the money back.
GO Grant
The purpose of the GO Grant is to provide a need-based component to the state's financial aid plan to support nontraditional and low to moderate-income students who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college.
This program has a maximum annual award of $3,000.
You can learn more about the GO Grant here.
Other Options
If you already have student loans and are looking for options as a Louisiana resident, check out our Louisiana Student Loan Forgiveness page. That page has all the different options available to Louisiana residents to potentially get some of your student loan debt forgiven.
You might also look at refinancing your student loans and saving money in interest while also potentially lowering your payment. Check out our guide on the Best Places To Refinance Your Student Loans.
If you're looking for ways to save for college in Louisiana, check out the Louisiana 529 Plan and College Savings Guide.
Finally, check out the other student loan and financial aid programs by state.
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Chris Muller