Louisiana has Tops , a tuition opportunity program which covers most, if not all, of tuition at a state college, like Louisiana State University. You must live in Louisiana for two years prior to high school graduation and maintain a minimum grade point average and ACT/SAT score to qualify.
Do other states have a program similar to this? We are just in the beginning stages of considering a move to another state, and this would be a large incentive.
Thanks in advance for your input (and links if available!)
Kentucky has the KEES program, which awards high school students money every semester based on their GPA. There are also bonuses awarded for ACT scores. The money’s available to be used at any in-state school, and in certain circumstances can be applied to out-of-state schools (I think it depends on whether or not a state school offers the major the student’s going in to.)
New Mexico has the “lottery scholarship”, which pays full tuition (after the student’s first full-time semester) for any resident of New Mexico who graduates from a New Mexico high school and immediately goes on to any state college or university. The scholarship recipient must maintain a 2.5 GPA. The amount granted depends on the funding, but so far it’s been paying the full tuition. The New Mexico Higher Education Department has more information here.
Pennsylvania has TAP also, but that’s looking well into the future because it doesn’t pay off right away. However, the price of the State System of Higher Education schools is covered almost entirely by Stafford loans, and those are about the cheapest loans you can get so it’s not prohibitively expensive just yet.
Does anyone know if Texas has a similar program? My heartstring are calling me there, as our daughter in the Air Force may be transferred there soon, and she’s carrying my grandbaby!!
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give!
Vermont has VSAC (Vermont Student Assistance Corp.) They have many different scholarships and loans available. And their loans are often at a much better rate than other companies.
I’m not sure about state schools, but as part of my financial aid package I receive the “Texas Equalization Grant” which basically covers a lot of the higher costs of attending a private university. When I checked on state schools, it was going to cost about $1,500 per semester; ETBU is $6,000 per semester, before room and board. I think each semester my TEG is about $2,000. FAFSA determines the package.
