LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana (KPLC) – Even though the school year has just begun, it’s never too early for high school seniors to start thinking about their education after this year and how to finance it. We spoke with Allison Dering this morning about the TOPS Tech Scholarship here in Louisiana.
If you live in Louisiana, you’ve probably heard of the TOPS scholarship and how it helps high school graduates pay for college. However, many don’t know that there is also a scholarship for technical colleges.
The TOPS Tech Scholarship funds up to two years of technical or vocational training at an accredited post-secondary educational institution.
SOWELA accepts both TOPS and TOPS Tech, but the scholarship criteria for TOPS Tech are different. Students with a minimum ACT score of 17 or the “Silver” score on ACT WorkKeys are eligible for TOPS Tech.
Other criteria include completing the TOPS core curriculum in high school and maintaining a grade point average of at least 2.5. Participants must also be Louisiana residents.
Students who receive a TOPS Tech scholarship typically receive $3,200 annually to assist with their tuition costs. This covers the majority of SOWELA’s $4,265 annual cost, leaving a balance of $1,064 for the year’s tuition. In addition, other scholarships are also available for those who meet the requirements.
Most of SOWELA’s programs are eligible for TOPS Tech, including criminal justice, business administration, and surgical technology.
For more information, take a SOWELA campus tour, call an enrollment specialist at (337) 421-6550, or email [email protected].
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