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New TOPS ‘Excellence’ award offers up to $12,000 a year for highest-scoring students
Summary
Board received an update on Act 347 (2025), which created a new TOPS Excellence award for students with a 3.5 core GPA and ACT scores of 31 or higher; the award pays up to $12,000 per year (or tuition and fees, whichever is less). Officials said some students are already receiving the award and that the state will track enrollment and retention.
The Board received an update on Act 347 of the 2025 legislative session, which establishes a new TOPS Excellence award for the state’s highest-scoring students.
Doctor Tristan Dimley, presenting the report, described the award’s eligibility and funding. “If you have a core GPA of 3.5, at least, and then an ACT composite score of at least 31, then you are eligible for that new excellence award,” Dimley said. “It carries an award level of up to $12,000…or the total of your tuition and fees, whichever is less.”
Why it matters: board members said the new Excellence award is intended to help the state retain high-achieving students who otherwise might attend college out of state. Dimley said the initial cohort is already receiving payments and staff will monitor whether the new award raises the share of eligible students who enroll at in-state institutions.
Board and public questions focused on timing, tracking and scale. Dimley told the board the award is being issued this academic year and that the office will track use and yield through existing reporting processes. “We will track that,” he said, describing annual TOPS reports and an intention to use the National Student Clearinghouse and other data to see whether the award increases the proportion of top students who enroll and remain in Louisiana.
A board member asked for an early snapshot after registration to detect any immediate change in enrollment patterns. Dimley said he expects more measurable results next year because the law was signed in the middle of the summer, and noted that staff produce semester-level student data in January and February. He also said the state’s longitudinal data system (LA First) and the workforce commission data-sharing agreement will make longer-term retention and career-placement analysis possible.
Board members and presenters asked staff to share what data are available to regents and commissioners as the office begins tracking the award’s effects. Dimley agreed to provide a timeline and early indicators to board members and to continue producing the full, audited TOPS report that includes participation and yield statistics.
The board voted to receive the informational report on Act 347. The motion to receive the report was made and seconded and the board recorded no exceptions.
