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LOSFA data shows falling TOPS eligibility and acceptance; officials point to smaller graduate cohorts, lower ACTs and out‑of‑state recruitment
Summary
LOSFA research director and executive director told lawmakers TOPS eligibility and acceptance rates have fallen, driven by a smaller pool of graduates, lower statewide ACT averages and more top students taking richer out‑of‑state offers; part‑time enrollment and delayed acceptance also reduce TOPS uptake.
Siwan Bute, executive director of LOSFA programs, and Shauna Estee, director of research and business intelligence, presented detailed empirical findings on the TOPS merit‑aid program and college‑going patterns to the House Education Committee.
Bute summarized a multi‑year trend: fewer Louisiana high‑school graduates are in the TOPS candidate pool and a smaller percentage of that pool meets TOPS eligibility thresholds. "When TOPS was decoupled from tuition... fees kept going up," Bute said, stressing that the gap between the static TOPS award and rising cost‑of‑attendance reduces the award's purchasing power.
LOSFA data presented to the committee showed TOPS acceptance rates falling over several…
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