Higher Standards For TOPS Scholarship Might Come Soon

TOPS may be getting some changes as Louisiana looks to stabilize college funding and tuition costs.

The state's merit-based college scholarship program could see some savings by raising the standards for getting the award.

Currently, a student can receive a TOPS scholarship by earning a high school GPA of 2.5 and an ACT school of at least a 20.

The program cost the state $41 million in 1996.  Last year, those costs rose to $166 million.

Task force member Dr. Philip Rozeman said the lower TOPS costs, the more money that can go to colleges.  That will help keep tuition costs from skyrocketing.