University students are being forced to face the harsh reality of increased tuition costs after spring TOPS numbers were confirmed last week.
This spring, TOPS will only cover 41.8 percent of students’ tuition, leaving University students responsible for more than $3,500 in tuition and fees. The University is the state’s largest TOPS recipient, with nearly 60 percent of students benefiting from the program.
For the first time in program history, TOPS was funded below 100 percent when legislators decided to cut the program by 30 percent in response to a nearly $1.6 billion budget deficit.
The full effects of the cuts were delayed when legislators voted to front-load TOPS payments to provide families additional time to prepare for the shortfall. As a result, TOPS payments were funded at 93 percent in the fall.
Doubts surrounding the extent of the TOPS cuts persisted until the official announcement, with many hoping the Legislature’s front-loading meant additional funding would be found.
In a statement on TOPS released Tuesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards questioned the Legislature’s decision and said the front-loading “gimmick” provided families with a false sense of hope. With the state’s continuing budget woes, providing additional funding for the program wasn’t feasible.
In June, Edwards criticized legislators for failing to develop a more responsible approach to TOPS funding at the end of the second special session. He echoed those sentiments Tuesday.
“Today, as I said this summer, Louisiana’s budget problems are having a real impact on students and their families,” Edwards said in the statement. “I’m asking the Legislature to work with me, so that Louisiana’s students are not left to shoulder the burden of our state’s financial problems.”
To back his statements, Edwards announced that no additional cuts will be coming to the popular tuition assistance program despite continuing budget woes. The state has a remaining budget deficit of $315 million for the current fiscal year, and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is scheduled to announce plans for mid-year cuts and budget measures Friday.
The future of the TOPS program beyond spring 2017 remains uncertain, despite Edwards’ hopeful declaration. Earlier this year, the Legislature voted to decouple TOPS awards from tuition rates, meaning students will no longer receive full tuition coverage moving forward.
Fee bills for the spring semester will become available Nov. 28, and payments are due Dec. 8.