A Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents
States Require the FAFSA for High School Seniors
The FAFSA is required in Louisiana for students to graduate, and the same will be true in Illinois and Texas
August 14, 2019

More states are following Louisiana's lead to make completing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) a graduation requirement. Those who work in the field of financial aid say students who complete a FAFSA are more likely to enroll in college. That is what Louisiana experienced following its FAFSA mandate.

Shannon Hattier, a Career Coach at  East Ascension High School in Gonzales, Louisiana, says each year she is surprised how little parents of seniors know about  financial aid  for college. She hopes the FAFSA requirement will change that.

Other states have expressed concern that without the mandate, there will be a shortage of educated workers.
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Congrats to Oscar McClain for being recognized by former First Lady Michelle Obama for his tenacity, academic performance, and ability to overcome adversity ! Oscar, a former Louisiana GEAR UP student and mentor for LOSFA programs, is a Scotlandville High graduate. He recently earned his bachelors degree in chemistry from Southern University and A&M College this past May.

Way to geaux Oscar!
#GEAUXtoCollege
Staff at LOSFA celebrated National #CollegeColorsDay on August 30, to kickoff conversations about why college is important.
Other Related News
SOWELA ranked one of top 20 community colleges in the country
August 22, 2019

In order to save money, some students are choosing to earn their general education credits at a community college and then transfer to a larger university setting.

WalletHub, a financial advisement website, compared more than 700 community colleges throughout the U.S. to determine where students can get the best education at the lowest cost. They looked at factors within three key data points: 1) Cost & Financing, 2) Education Outcomes and 3) Career Outcomes.

The rankings placed SOWELA Technical Community College as number one in the state and 11th out of more than 700 community colleges.

View WalletHub's 2019 Best & Worst Community College rankings here .
Three Louisiana post-secondary institutions recognized for low loan debt
August 19, 2019

LendEDU, a company that helps the public compare financial products such as student loans, has published its annual Student Loan Debt by School by State report. The company compares about 1,000 private and public higher education institutions in the United States.

Three Louisiana schools are noted in their overall top 250 schools with the lowest debt per borrower.

Ranking 63rd - Southeastern Louisiana University with $19,736
Ranking 155th - Louisiana Tech University with $23,659
Ranking 239th - Louisiana College with $25,885

LendEDU says there's one thing the report cannot hide, student loan debt continues to be a growing issue as the cost of college continually rises.

LOSFA encourages students to investigate scholarship opportunities while in high school and during their college years. The agency posts a monthly list of scholarships on its social media platforms for secondary and post-secondary students.
Parents, students say they should have started planning for college costs earlier
August, 19, 2019

A survey done by Citizen Bank has found that parents and students wish they had planned and discussed how to pay for college sooner.

A significant portion of those polled say they started having those talks while their son/daughter was in eighth grade. Others say they waited until high school.

“It’s clear that more has to be done to help prepare students for the future—whether it is through helping them navigate paying for college or educating them on how to manage their money by establishing savings and checking accounts,” Brendan Coughlin, president of Consumer Deposits and Lending at Citizens Bank, said.

As early as the sixth grade, LOSFA begins meeting with students to promote conversations about planning and paying for college.

LOSFA is introducing a new program this year, to help sixth through eleventh graders understand all aspects of the college access process; Lil' CAAM (Louisiana Little Initiative for College Application and Access Month).

During the month of October, while seniors are completing college applications for Louisiana College Application & Access Month, the younger students spend each week mapping out a plan for their future, using LOSFA's 5-Point Match.

What am I good at? (Skills and Interest Match - Unlock My Future)

How do I get in? (Academic Match - Dual Enrollment courses, TOPS Tech Early Start, AP courses, GPA, and ACT scores)

Can I afford it? (Cost of Choice Match - TOPS, TOPS Tech, START 529 College Saving Plan, Scholarships, and FAFSA)

Who gets me? (Social & Emotional Match - campus organizations, sports, etc.)

Will I stay or will I go? (Retention Match - campus visits and connect with campus resources and student support services)

High tuition, living expenses and grades have college kids stressed, TD Ameritrade says
August 6, 2019

A recent survery from TD Ameritrade says Generation Z (those born in the 90's and early 2000's) are stressed out about paying tuition, getting good grades, and finding a career that pays well.

With tuition costs continuing to rise some students are looking at more online courses to save money, while others may be choosing to go to community college instead of pursuing a four-year degree.

One of the suggestions in the article is to start saving early, using a 529 college saving plan. To read up on Louisiana's 529 college saving plan , click here .

The article also highlights one of the keys on LOSFA's 5 Point Match tool: Cost of Choice .
About LOSFA
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), a program of the Louisiana Board of Regents, strives to be Louisiana's first choice for college access by promoting, preparing for and providing equity of college access.