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10 Louisiana Scholarships to Save You Thousands on College
What’s Covered:
Are you a college-bound student in Louisiana? Whether you plan to attend school in your home state or elsewhere, there are many scholarships available to help you pay for your education. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best awards in the state.
10 Louisiana Scholarships
1. Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
Amount: Varies
Deadline: July 1 after the one-year anniversary of your high school graduation
Eligibility: Attend an approved high school (all LA public schools are approved); minimum 2.5 GPA; completion of 19 Core Units of the TOPS Core Curriculum; minimum 20 ACT score
Application Requirements: FAFSA, application
TOPS is a program of state scholarships for residents of Louisiana who attend a public college, university, or approved vocational/technical school in the state. The program includes four awards: the Opportunity Award, Honors Award, Performance Award, and Tech Award. The scholarships are renewable, as long as recipients meet minimum requirements.
2. Innovation in Education Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline: Monthly drawings, must be submitted by the 20th of each month.
Eligibility: Currently be enrolled as a high school or college/university student; minimum 3.0 GPA
Application Requirements: Essay describing the goal of the project; supporting documentation
LA Tutors 123 believes in the importance of creativity in students. That’s why the organization offers $500 scholarships every month, awarded based on an innovative idea, work, design, or project. Eligible students must have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others.
3. Stephen W. Cavanaugh Scholarship
Amount: $8,000 ($1,000 per semester for 8 consecutive semesters)
Deadline: July 20
Eligibility: Must be studying an insurance-related field as a full-time student at an accredited university, college, or community college in Louisiana; minimum 2.5 GPA
Application Requirements: Application, transcript, ACT/SAT scores, resume, letter of recommendation, essay
Established in 2007, this scholarship is intended for students who are pursuing a career in the insurance industry, majoring in finance, business, actuarial science, risk management, or another relevant field. Students must demonstrate good leadership character to be considered.
4. Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Scholarships
Amount: Up to $2,500 for tuition and $500 for textbooks per year
Deadline: July 15, November 25, or April 25
Eligibility: Tribal members of the Sovereign Nation of Chitimacha; must live within a 50-mile radius of the Louisiana reservation; must file a FAFSA
Application Requirements: Transcript or GED diploma, FAFSA documentation, application
The Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha offers multiple scholarships to tribal members who gain admission to an accredited college or trade school. Students must attain a minimum 2.0 GPA to remain in good standing with the program.
5. YCP: GO Youth ChalleNGe Program
Amount: Tuition
Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: Must be a graduate of the residential phase of Louisiana National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe Program and have earned a Louisiana high school equivalency diploma; may not have a criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations
Application Requirements: FAFSA; evidence of high school completion
The GO Youth ChalleNGe Grant assists graduates of the Louisiana National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe Program in pursuing their college education. The program will cover the cost of tuition at a Louisiana postsecondary institution or member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities for two years.
6. Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship
Amount: $2,000 or $3,000 annually (maximum cumulative award is $12,000)
Deadline: July 1
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate or graduate student at a Louisiana public institution pursuing a relevant degree; minimum 3.5 GPA (undergraduates) or 3.0 (graduate students)
Application Requirements: FAFSA, scholarship application
The Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship awards $2,000 per year for an undergraduate student and $3,000 per year for a graduate student pursuing a degree in forestry, wildlife, or marine science at a Louisiana public college or university.
7. Agnes Morris Education Scholarship Fund
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Women aged 25+; must be a BPW/LA member; must attend a two- or four-year college in Louisiana
Application Requirements: Scholarship application, transcript, entrance exam test scores, three letters of recommendation.
The Louisiana Federation of Business & Professional Women sponsors the Agnes Morris Education Scholarship to help returning students continue their education. Students must be registered for at least six credits to earn the scholarship, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and display leadership promise.
8. Southern Automative Women’s Forum Scholarship Program
Amount: $1,000-$5,000
Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Women enrolled or enrolling in a STEM program at a two-year technical school, four-year college, or graduate school in a Southern state; minimum 2.5 GPA (cumulative) and 3.0 (major)
Application Requirements: Resume, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, essay
The SAWF Scholarship Program assists women in the STEM field with scholarships $1,000-$5,000 (amount depends on the number of applicants). Preference is given to those interested in the automobile and mobility industry. Students in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, or West Virginia may apply.
9. Karen E. Domingue-Maillet and Solvay/Eco Services Scholarship
Amount: $750 per semester for eight consecutive semesters (maximum award is $6,000)
Deadline: May 25
Eligibility: Graduating from an East Baton Rouge Parish high school and enrolling full-time in an accredited university or college; must rank in the upper 50% of senior class and demonstrate a need for financial assistance
Application Requirements: Application, transcript, ACT/SAT score report, resume, FAFSA, letter of recommendation, essay
Established by Solvay/Eco Services and the Domingue family to honor Karen E. Domingue-Maillet’s life and work, this scholarship helps students from East Baton Rouge pay for their education. In their essays, applicants should describe their background, interests, and future plans.
10. Louisiana Bar Foundation Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Dependent of a worker killed or permanently and totally disabled in an accident compensable under a state or federal Worker’s Compensation Act or law; must be a Louisiana resident between ages 16-25 who demonstrates financial need; must maintain a C average or higher
Application Requirements: Recent school picture, grade report at the end of each completed term.
The Louisiana Bar Foundation Kids’ Chance Scholarship Program is the state chapter of a national organization that provides scholarships to children of Louisiana workers who were killed or disabled after an accident compensable under a state or federal Workers’ Compensation Act or law. Applicants must demonstrate substantial financial need and be pursuing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree or vocational training at a Louisiana institution.
Tips for Applying to Scholarships
1. Focus on institution-based aid.
Start by maximizing the need-based and merit-based scholarships at your institution. Often, colleges and universities offer generous aid, particularly to high-performing students. Take advantage of these awards before pursuing outside scholarships, which can then be used to supplement your aid.
2. Look for niche scholarships.
Scholarships targeted to specific demographics — like state residency — achievements, career goals, or intended areas of study are typically easier to secure than those that are open to all college-bound students. Try to find awards open to a smaller, niche audience.
3. Don’t stop applying.
The wider you cast your net, the more likely you are to win and grow your college funding. Even if you’ve already won some scholarships, keep applying!
