Types of Aid

Financial Aid is divided into three different types:

• Federal Programs
• TOPS & Other State Programs
• Scholarships

Federal Programs

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

Federal Pell Grants. Your eligibility to receive a Pell Grant is noted on your Student Aid Report (SAR). A Pell Grant is available to undergraduate students seeking their first Bachelor’s Degree. A Pell Grant does not have to be repaid.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG). If you are awarded this grant you will be notified on your award letter. Because of funding limits, LSUS awards this grant to independent students with one or more dependents who exhibit extreme financial need. An SEOG does not have to be repaid.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG). An ACG is available to entering freshman who are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant and who completed a rigorous high school curriculum. Students from Louisiana would have completed the Regents Core Curriculum in high school. To receive the award during the student’s sophomore year the student must have earned 30 hours, but no more than 60 hours and possess a 3.00 grade point average. An ACG does not have to be repaid.

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART). A SMART Grant is available to juniors and seniors who are majoring in certain subject areas in science and mathematics. To receive a SMART Grant the student must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant, be classified as a junior or senior, and possess a 3.00 grade point average. A SMART Grant does not have to be repaid.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (TEACH). Students willing to make a commitment to teach in certain subject areas and in schools serving low-income students can be awarded up to $4,000.00 annually. The student must agree to teach four years within eight years of graduation. This award is available to both undergraduate and graduate students with a 3.25 grade point average. Juniors and seniors must be accepted into the Teacher Education and Retention Program; graduate students must possess teaching credentials. Students enrolled in Teach LSUS are not eligible. Failure to complete the service obligation will result in the grant converting to a loan that must be paid back with accrued interest.

Federal Work Study. To be awarded federal work study, the student must state on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that they are “interested in work study”. Work study funds are paid directly to the student has he or she earns the money in an on-campus or community service position assigned by LSUS. Students are allowed to earn up to the amount of funds stated on their award letters.

Student Loans. LSUS participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), more commonly known as the Stafford Student Loan Program. All first-time students at LSUS are required to complete entrance counseling and a Master Promissory. When you are awarded a student loan, you will receive information necessary to complete the entrance counseling and the promissory note. Your award letter will state the maximum amount that you are eligible to borrow based on your academic classification and dependency status. If you wish to reduce the amount of loans funds that you are receiving, you may do so on your award letter. Students who receive loan funds must repay the loan within a set period of time after completing their degrees or leaving LSUS.

With the Stafford Student Loan Program there are three types of loans, Subsidized, Unsubsidized and the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). To be awarded a Subsidized Stafford Student Loan the student must have unmet financial need after the student’s cost of attendance is subtracted from their family contribution and any grants, scholarships or work study the student has been awarded. Interest does not accrue on a subsidized loan until six months after the student graduates or ceases to be enrolled in at least six hours. If a student is awarded an unsubsidized loan the interest on the loan begins to accrue when the lender remits the funds to LSUS. Students enrolled in at least six hours can chose to not pay the interest on an unsubsidized loan; however, the student should be aware that the interest accrues while the student is in school and may be capitalized when the student enters repayment. Students may borrow the lesser of cost of attendance minus any grants, scholarships or work study the student is awarded or loan limits based on the student’s academic classification or dependency status. Parents of a dependent student may be able to borrow up to the cost of attendance less any scholarships, grants, loans or work study the student is awarded for their children. A credit check is required for a PLUS loan. If a parent of a dependent student has been denied a PLUS loan that student may be eligible for additional unsubsidized loan funds. Following is a chart stating the amount of loan funds a student can borrow annually:

GRADUATE STUDENTS: Graduate Students can borrow up to $20,500 annually or cost of attendance whichever is less. No more than $8,500 of the annual amount may be in subsidized loans. The maximum total debt from Stafford loan funds is $138,500. No more than $65,500 of this amount may be subsidized loans. The graduate debt limit includes funds received as an undergraduate student.

GRADUATE STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE: To borrow loan funds, graduate students must be enrolled in six hours of graduate level courses. Graduate students enrolled in undergraduate courses are not eligible to borrow student loan funds if they are not also enrolled in six hours of graduate level courses.

TOPS & Other State Programs

Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). TOPS is a comprehensive program of state scholarships for students from the State of Louisiana. TOPS has three award levels with different selection criteria and retention requirements:

• TOPS Opportunity Award
• TOPS Performance Award
• TOPS Honors Award

TOPS Scholarships are awarded by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA). TOPS eligibility can be checked on their website at www.osfa.state.la.us. Students receiving TOPS receive written notification of their award in the late spring/early summer from LOSFA. LSUS receives notification of a student’s award from LOSFA on the TOPS Master Roster. The Master Roster is downloaded and eligible students are given credit for 12 hours of covered tuition and fees. Please note that a TOPS Scholarship does not cover all the tuition and fees students are assessed. For the 2009-2010 academic year a TOPS Opportunity Award is $1,371.00 a semester and 12 hours of tuition and fees is $1,854.60. The student’s TOPS Opportunity Award covers all but $483.60 of tuition and fees. NOTE: The tuition and fees for 12 hours quoted above is subject to change.

Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership (LEAP). A LEAP Grant is offered to undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Priority is given to independent students with dependents who receive a full Federal Pell Grant award. LEAP Grants are limited to Louisiana residents.

Louisiana GO Grants (LAGO). An LAGO is awarded to students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. This award is to provide a need-based component to the State of Louisiana’s financial aid plan to support nontraditional and low to moderate-income students. Awards range from $200 to $2,000. Awards are restricted to undergraduate students who are Louisiana residents.

Scholarships

Scholarships for Entering LSUS Students

Scholarships for currently enrolled LSUS Students

The following scholarships are awarded based upon the student’s academic record at LSUS. University-wide scholarships are awarded by the LSUS Financial Aid and Scholarship Committee; therefore, an application is not required. The College Scholarships are awarded by a faculty committee within each college. Students may apply for College Scholarships by contacting the Dean's office for the college in which they are enrolled.

Hardship Waivers (.pdf)

Carroll Hoffpauir Scholarship Century Development Housing Scholarships Doris A. Kilkuskie Endowed Scholarship The Community Foundation of Shreveport/Bossier Annie Lowe Stiles Scholarships Freta S. Daniel LSUS Zonta Book Scholarship Goldman Foundation Scholarship

John & Joanna Magale Scholarship Matel and Bessie Hall Dawson Endowed Scholarships Dr. Matel Dawson, Jr. Endowed Scholarships Ned and Kittie Dawson Endowed Scholarships William N. and Marie L. Lyle Scholarship

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Peggy and Aaron Selber, Jr. Scholarship Ark-La-Tex Quality Council Scholarship Association of Student Accountants Scholarships Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship Better Business Bureau Scholarship Business Administration Scholarship CBA Faculty/Staff Scholarship Cole, Evans, Peterson Accounting Scholarships Don Wilcox Scholarship Donna Tanner Executive Women's International Scholarship Dr. Karen E. James Marketing Promotional Strategy Scholarship S. Berton Heard Scholarships F. Katzenstein Memorial Scholarship Paulette A. Heath Sales Scholarship South Shreveport Rotary Charles Vestal Memorial Scholarship South Shreveport Rotary Scholarship Thrifty Nickel Scholarship

Hibernia Bank Outstanding Business Senior Scholarship John M. Easom Fast Tax Scholarship KPMG Scholarships Larry Thompson & Associates, Inc. Scholarship U.L. Coleman Real Estate Scholarship Louisiana Real Estate Commission Scholarship LSUS Alumni Business Scholarship Phillip D. Nimmo Fast Tax Scholarship Re/Max Executive Realty Scholarship Samuel Smith Memorial Scholarship Shelia Herring Chumley Scholarship Shreveport Women in Insurance Scholarship Shreveport Women’s Business Council Scholarship Society for Human Resource Management Scholarship Traffic and Transportation Scholarship Travis A. White Endowed Scholarship Women's Council of Realtors Scholarship

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.lsus.edu/ehd

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Alpha Theta Education Major Scholarship B.E. Tabarlet Scholarship Dr. Jimmie N. Smith Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Psychology George A. Khoury, Jr., Endowed Scholarship Hibernia Bank Outstanding Education Senior Scholarship

LSUS Alumni Education Scholarship Mary Edna Adams Brossette Endowed Scholarship Porter “Court” Crow Scholarship Southwest Shreveport Rotary Club Tabarlet Education Award Wesson-Bridger Scholarship

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COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.lsus.edu/la

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Allena J. Longfellow Scholarship American Humanics Management Institute Scholarship American Studies Program Scholarship Association of Fundraising Professionals Scholarship Debate Team Scholarship Dr. C.J. Handford-Barlow Communications Scholarship Evelyn Herring English Club Scholarship Fine Arts Scholarship H.F. Sockrider, Jr. Pre-Law Scholarship H.J. Sachs English Scholarship Hiberina Bank Outstanding Liberal Arts Senior Scholarship

Jazz Band Scholarship LSUS Alumni Liberal Arts Scholarship Master of Science in Human Service Administration Award Milton Finley Scholarship for Excellence in History and Social Sciences Norman A. Dolch Scholarship Phi Alpha Theta Award Shreveport Police Glen Tompkins Memorial Scholarship Simons-Lincove International Studies Scholarship Walter O. Bigby Scholarship

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COLLEGE OF SCIENCES SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.science.lsus.edu

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Association for Information and Technical Professionals Scholarship Bowman Internet Systems Computer Science Scholarship C. Donald Smith Memorial Scholarship Certification in Chemistry and Physics Stipend Gary K. Brashier Chemistry Scholarship George Paul Bonner Physics Scholarship Hibernia Bank Outstanding Sciences Senior Scholarship

John. T. and Elizabeth McBride Scholarship LSUS Alumni Sciences Scholarship National Science Foundation Computer Science, Engineering, and Math (CSEMS) Stipend Neal Dlin Memorial Scholarship Northwest Louisiana PC Users Group Scholarship Willis M./Lillene M. Herring Pre-Nursing Scholarship