If states want to nurse budget wounds, a revision in merit-based scholarship programs like TOPS may be needed, a national education scholar told the Louisiana Postsecondary Education Review Commission on Monday. Michael McPherson, president of the Spencer Foundation — an organization that supports research about education — told members during a video conference his research shows states with programs similar to TOPS give too much to families who can afford the tuition. McPherson’s comments echoed sentiments made by LSU System President John Lombardi last month. The TOPS scholarship, which covers full tuition at the University using state dollars for students who meet ACT and GPA requirements, should be changed to a one-time merit award of $2,000, and the leftover money should be used along with Go-Grant funding to establish a stronger need-based financial aid program, Lombardi said. According to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, 38 percent of TOPS recipients come from families earning more than $100,000 per year.As co-author of the book “Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America’s Public Universities,” McPherson helped research 21 public flagship universities in the U.S. While his studies didn’t include Louisiana, many of his findings can be applied to the state, and his research methods can be duplicated, he said. “Giving high-income students a better deal doesn’t do anything for their graduation rates,” McPherson said about TOPS and similar programs. McPherson said his research shows students who come from high income families will perform better in school regardless of financial incentives like TOPS. Stronger need-based financial aid programs are needed across the country to raise graduation rates, which he said have decreased steadily since the ’70s. The Commission is charged with evaluating higher education in the state and making recommendations to the Legislature about how to deal with an expected $150 million cut in state funding for public colleges and universities the next fiscal year. Former Chancellor and Commission member James Wharton defended TOPS, telling McPherson the students work hard to earn the scholarship.”Their parents don’t earn it, the students earn it,” Wharton said. McPherson repeatedly said he isn’t highly knowledgeable about the Louisiana higher education system, but programs like TOPS don’t help graduation rates as much as people think and may be using state dollars unwisely — especially during a budget crisis.- – – -Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]