Students received an E-mail informing them that the Taylor Opportunity Program for students may not cover all of the recent tuition increase, but the difference students were required to pay was $24.10. The E-mail was sent as an estimate to inform students that they may receive a balance difference depending on what the increase would be for TOPS, Amanda Fremin, assistant director for financial aid, said.

“It didn’t concern me, but I know other students who were concerned,” Heather Simoneaux, secondary English education senior from Pierre Part, said.

TOPS does not cover lab fees, technology fees or parking decal, Fremin said. “At one time TOPS covered tuition fully until the fees were raised. “It never covered all my tuition, so I wasn’t aware of a gap,” Melinda Mclaim, English junior from Thibodaux, said.

TOPS has paid the full increase in tuition in the past and this year it calculated a five percent increase to what it was currently paying, Michael Naquin, assistant vice president for finance and controller, said.

The legislature approves all state increases causing TOPS to increase as well, Naquin said.

TOPS opportunity scholarship increased from $1,275 to $1,339 this year, Fremin said.

The performance scholarship is $1,530 plus a $200 stipend and the honors scholarship is $1,739 with a $400 stipend.