Scholarships and Grants

The Federal Pell Grant is designed to assist students in pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The purpose of the program is to provide eligible students with a “foundation” of financial aid to help defray the cost of post-secondary education. Full awards are based on a minimum of 12 semester hours. Students taking between 9-11 hours will be awarded on a three-fourths basis. Those taking 6-8 hours will be awarded on a one-half basis. Federal Pell eligible students taking under six hours may qualify for an award amount roughly one fourth of the full time amount. Graduate students and students enrolled as undergraduates, but who already have a baccalaureate degree, are not eligible.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is for Federal Pell Grant recipients with exceptional financial need.

Go Grant is a Louisiana need based grant program, which provides funding to Federal Pell Grant Recipients. For 2011-12, the fifth academic year of the program, funding is limited to students who attended college for the first time in 2007 or later and students who will be 25 or older by the end of 2011 and who have not attended college in the previous two regular semesters. Funding during any academic year may be limited in a manner that would prevent full awards to all qualified applicants. LSUHSC awards Go Grants to qualified applicants with complete aid application files based on FAFSA completion date (earliest dates first) until available funding is exhausted.

Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award recipients identified by Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) as maintaining TOPS eligibility receive payment equal to basic allowable fees through the TOPS program. Those who qualify for TOPS Performance and Honors level awards also receive an additional $200 or $400, respectively, per semester.

LSU Board of Supervisors Scholarship applications are available in the Student Financial Aid Office. Members of the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors and the LSU System President select scholarship recipients.

LSUHSC Hardship Waiver: This is a need based grant program meeting a State legislative mandate to set aside a portion of funds from tuition increases to alleviate the impact of those increases for needy students. Funds are awarded to Louisiana residents demonstrating significant financial need; this is defined as an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Free Application for Federal Student Aid result in the Federal Pell-Eligible range. Due to limited available funds, the school may consider for funding only applicants with Zero EFC and no other significant gift assistance. Awards are made on a first come first served basis. Award amounts vary.

Centennial Award: Students who matriculate from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, and hold the award, will be continued at the Health Sciences Center as long as they maintain their eligibility as established for the original award (undergraduate study only). However, at LSUHSC-NO the award is not available concurrent with TOPS.

Decennial Award: Students who matriculate from the University of New Orleans and hold the award will be continued at the Health Sciences Center as long as they maintain their eligibility as established for the original award (undergraduate study only). ). However, at LSUHSC-NO, the award is not available concurrent with TOPS.

Honor Awards: Each participating school makes selection as only one award is made per class, per year, in each professional school. The award is worth $270 per academic year.