Available Types of Financial Aid

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to eligible undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree and who possess financial need as determined by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students meeting eligibility requirements are offered the Federal Pell Grant.

Eligibility:
Must have a qualifying Student Aid Index (SAI) as determined by the FAFSA.
Students are limited to receive the equivalent of twelve semesters in Pell grant. Review more information regarding Pell Lifetime Eligibility. (LEU)
Award eligibility varies based on enrollment status

Award Range:
The maximum award is $7,395 for the 2023-2024 award year. Award amounts are determined by the federal Pell Grant Schedule which accounts for EFC and enrollment status.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is available to undergraduate Federal Pell Grant recipients with high financial need. Availability is based on annual federal allocations. This fund does not require a separate application. It is awarded through the standard process based on the FAFSA. LSUHSC generally uses limited available SEOG funds for Summer Term awards.

Eligibility:

Students must be a Pell Grant recipient.
High need students working on their first undergraduate degree.

Award Range:

$500 – $1000 for the award year. Award amount based on enrolled hours and availability of funds.

State Grants

Louisiana Go Grant

Louisiana Go Grant is a state aid program designed to supplement grant assistance for Louisiana resident Federal Pell Grant recipients.

Eligibility

Only Louisiana residents, and in some cases students who may not be Louisiana residents but whose non-custodial parents are Louisiana residents, are eligible for consideration. Go Grant is available only during semesters in which recipients are enrolled at least half time and concurrently receiving Federal Pell Grant funding. Students 25 and older by the first calendar year of the award year receive priority consideration. Due to limited funding some eligible students may not be funded.

Amounts

State regulations limit Go Grant funding to $1500 per semester, $3000 per academic year. LSUHSC New Orleans awards funding based on the maximum level for recipients assessed the maximum Tuition for the semester, and half of the maximum level for students assessed less than the maximum Tuition for the semester (due to reduced course load). Students taking less than six hours in a semester are ineligible for Go Grant funding for the semester.

Selected candidates receive the lesser of the amounts discussed above or an amount that brings total grant funding up to calculated financial need for the semester at the time the candidate is selected for funding. Students already receiving calculated financial need form other gift assistance (at the time of Go Grant award) do not receive Go Grant funding.

Award Procedure

LSUHSC New Orleans selects Go Grant Recipients on a semester by semester basis shortly after the 14th class day of each semester. If available funding is insufficient to fund all eligible candidates for the semester, candidates are funded in Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process date order, with students meeting the age priority criteria discussed above receiving some additional priority consideration. New and continuing students as well as first time and prior Go Grant recipients are considered on an equal basis. Due to limited available funding, some students receiving Go Grants in the Fall semester may not be funded in the Spring semester.

Summer Term is a trailer (last Term of the academic year) for financial aid purposes for all LSUHSC New Orleans undergraduate students and programs.

For more information regarding Louisiana Go Grant please visit https://mylosfa.la.gov/students-parents/scholarships-grants/go-grant/.

LSUHSC Hardship Waiver

This is a need based grant program meeting a State legislative mandate to set aside a portion of funds from tuition increases to alleviate the impact of those increases for needy students. Funds are awarded to Louisiana residents assessed full-time tuition and demonstrating significant financial need; this is defined as an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Free Application for Federal Student Aid result in the Federal Pell-Eligible range. Due to limited available funds, the school may consider for funding only applicants with Zero EFC and no other significant gift assistance. Awards are made on a first come first served basis. Award amounts vary. Posted Hardship Waiver awards will be cancelled in the event the award recipient fails to register at a credit hour level requiring full tuition payment, and may be cancelled in the event the recipient receives other scholarship/grant support.

TOPS

Louisiana's Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)

Louisiana's TOPS is a comprehensive program of state scholarships with three levels: the Opportunity Award; the Performance Award; and the Honors Award. Each award has specific eligibility and selection criteria, including, ACT score, and completion of a specified high school college preparatory core curriculum, and grade point average of the core courses. TOPS scholars must also meet certain GPA and continuous full-time enrollment requirements to retain TOPS eligibility. TOPS awards are limited to four academic years (eight semesters). Click here for more information.

Institutional Scholarships and Grants

LSUHSC schools award scholarships and grants funded through institutional sources, the LSUHSC Foundation, and generous donations. These scholarships are available based on the submission of a general application to the LSUHSC Foundation.

For the LSUHSC Academic Works Portal, click here.

Fee Waivers and Stipends

Fee waivers and stipends are available to qualified students. Contact the program in which you are interested for further information on this type of aid.

Federal Student Aid

Federal Student Aid (FSA), also known as Title IV funding, is provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Federal aid helps students to pay for higher education expenses. Federal student aid covers such expenses as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Aid can also help pay for a computer and for dependent care. Please note: Students may not exceed loan limits regulated by the U.S. Department of Education.

Important Reminder: Federal Student Aid is awarded under the assumption that a student will complete course(s) for the entire semester and/or payment period for which the funds were awarded. If a recipient of Title IV funds stops attending LSUHSC after beginning attendance, officially and/or unofficially, in a course, regardless of the reason, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds originally awarded.

Federal Direct Stafford Loans

Including both Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, these are education loans in the student’s name and are applied for through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All federal loans listed below require at least half time enrollment.

Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Program

These federal loans feature a subsidized need based component and an unsubsidized non-need based component. The government does not charge interest on the subsidized component during qualifying in-school, grace and deferment periods. The interest rate is fixed for loans borrowed each academic year based on a 10 year Treasury Note rate plus an add-on percentage (add on percentages are 2.05% for undergraduate, 3.6% for graduate/professional).

► Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Academic Year Limits ◄

Medical and Dental students can generally borrow up to $40,500 for a nine month academic year, with some adjustment for longer and shorter academic years. Public Health students can borrow up to $32,500 per nine month academic year, with some adjustment for longer and shorter borrowing periods.

Academic year loan limits for other students are as follows.

Dependent sophomore - $6,500 Independent sophomore - $10,500

Dependent junior/senior - $7,500 Independent junior/senior - $12,500

Graduate/professional (other than Medicine Dentistry and Public Health) - $20,500

These amounts may be reduced based on the applicable Student Standard Budget and other aid received. The Subsidized component is limited to the lesser of the Student Standard Budget minus the Expected Family Contribution and other aid received, or as follows.

Sophomore - $4,500 Junior/Senior - $5,500

Federal Direct Loans for graduate/professional students are all unsubsidized. The availability and duration of subsidy for undergraduate students are limited based on academic program length and prior subsidized Federal Direct Loan borrowing.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans

Through the Federal Direct PLUS program, graduate level students and the parents of undergraduate dependent students can borrow additional funds for educational expenses. The interest rate is fixed for loans borrowed each academic year based on a 10 year Treasury Note rate plus 4.6%. Total funding including PLUS must not exceed the student budget established by the school.

Federal Direct Loan Origination Fees

The federal government retains origination fees form direct loans, reducing the net disbursements. The standard origination fee for Federal Direct Stafford loans is 1%; the standard origination fee for PLUS loans is 4%. Federal budget sequester has resulted in fractional increases to these fees.

Health Professions Student Loan

Dental students demonstrating financial need after assessment of both student and parent resources may receive funding through this program. These loans are also interest free during qualifying in-school, grace and deferment periods, and 5% interest rate during repayment.

►►Note Eligibility for federal loans is determined based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); however, loan applicants must also file promissory notes and complete loan entrance counseling.

Private Loans

The LSU Health Science Center – New Orleans is providing you with information regarding private loans to assist you in making an informed decision about funding your education. Before you look at private loan funding, make sure you have researched and used all federal, state, and institutional financial aid funds that are available to you. Free or lower-cost Title IV federal, state, or school student financial aid may be available in place of, or in addition to, a private education loan by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Also, we encourage you to explore internal and external scholarships opportunities that may be available to you.

As you explore private loan options, keep in mind what is most important to you and select the program that meets your personal financial situation. Choosing a private loan is a long-term decision — it will be with you long after you have graduated. Being informed now could save you time, difficulties, and money later.

If you would like to access a comprehensive comparison chart of all lenders used by LSU Health Science Center – New Orleans students within the last three years, please click on the Private Loan Comparison Chart. LSU Health New Orleans does not recommend one lender over another, nor do we participate in any agreements or arrangements with any lender. You are not limited to the lenders listed on the Comparison Chart and may borrow with any lender of your choice.

Loan periods will be adjusted to reflect the current academic term or last term of enrollment within current academic year.

If you have questions concerning a specific private loan program, please contact the lender directly.

Veterans Benefits

The Veterans Administration officer for the Health Sciences Center is the Registrar, who certifies enrollment and academic load of veterans. The Veterans Administration determines the amount.

Other Aid Programs

The Health Sciences Center recognizes and administers other programs over which it has no authority to determine qualifications or amounts. Students are required to notify the Student Financial Aid Office promptly of any aid received from outside sources.

Scholarships offered by persons or organizations who determine the recipient and amount but require the funds to be handled through the Health Sciences Center are welcome.