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The FAFSA: First step in your college funding journey
For Louisiana students, the FAFSA may be your ticket to TOPS and other “free” money for college.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for student loans, and it connects you with “free money,” student aid that generally doesn’t need to be paid back: Scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities. Here are the types of financial aid and links to each:
- TOPS Scholarships – State merit-based scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend a Louisiana public college or university, a Louisiana Community and Technical College System school or a Louisiana approved proprietary or cosmetology school or institution that is a part of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
- Private Scholarships – Help ease the financial burden on your family, reducing the need for student loans and long-term debt. The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) offers helpful resources.
- Federal Work-Study Jobs – Help college students cover education expenses by providing them part-time employment while they are enrolled in school.
- Louisiana Go Grant – Go Grants are need-based grants designed to support nontraditional and low- to moderate-income students who need additional student aid.
- Student Loans – Can come from the federal government, from private sources such as a bank or financial institution, or from other organizations, such as Lela.
- Federal Grants – There is a variety of grants for students attending college or career school. Unlike loans, most types of grants generally do not have to be repaid.
- Pell Grants – A federal grant for undergraduate students from low-income families.
You’ve got FAFSA questions. We’ve got answers.
We’re compiling a list of the most common FAFSA questions and answers for Louisiana students that we receive through the Lela Helpline and will continue to add to the list. Here are the some of the most common questions so far.
Which FAFSA do I complete, the 2025-26 or 2026-27?
High school seniors need to complete the 2026-27 FAFSA. It covers the award year that runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
How do I complete the FAFSA?
You should visit StudentAid.gov to start your FAFSA application. Lela offers a FAFSA Completion Guide to walk you through the process. You can download the guide here. If you need additional FAFSA assistance, you can contact the Federal Student Aid Office’s Student Aid Help Center or Lela for assistance.
I won’t qualify for aid. Do I still need to complete the FAFSA?
The FAFSA considers factors outside of income, which means there’s a possibility you may qualify for federal student aid. Also, the FAFSA serves as the application for federal work-study funds, federal student loans and even scholarships and grants offered by your state, school or private organization. If you want to get the most financial aid possible, you should consider completing the FAFSA. (Source: LOSFA)
Find more FAQs on our FAFSA Common Questions page.
Download Lela’s FAFSA Completion Guide here
Find additional FAFSA Information and Resources at:
- Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education