M.J. FOSTER PROMISE PROGRAM
What is the M.J. Foster Promise Program?
The M.J. Foster Promise Program, named after the former Louisiana Governor Mike J. Foster, provides financial assistance to eligible students who enroll in a qualified program at a two-year public college or university, or an accredited proprietary school licensed by the Board of Regents to pursue an associate degree or a shorter-term postsecondary education credential required for certain high-demand, high-wage occupations aligned with Louisiana’s workforce needs.
The M.J. Foster Program will be administered by the Board of Regents through the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA).
Applicants may begin submitting their M.J. Foster Promise application for the 2024-25 aid year effective June 1, 2024. Qualified students are awarded per academic year starting July 1 and ending June 30.
There are three easy steps to receiving funds from the M.J. Foster Promise Program. All steps must be completed in order to receive a funding decision
FOR CREDIT COURSES
Step 1. Complete a SoLAcc non-credit application.
Step 2. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Step 3. Complete an application with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOFSA).
The M.J. Foster Promise Program will be available to all Louisiana residents (20 years or older) with individual student awards available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students will qualify for financial support to earn credentials that align to high-demand jobs in growing industry sectors, such as construction, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics. View the list of approved qualified programs.
If the available funding is not sufficient to fully fund all eligible award recipients, awards shall be provided first to previous award recipients who have met all requirements for maintaining the award and who are continuing in a qualified program for which they previously received the award, and then next to all eligible students enrolled in a program as funds are available.
Check below to see if you are eligible!
- Be a Louisiana resident for two years prior to applying and be a U.S. Citizen
- Be at least twenty (20) years of age
- Have earned a high school diploma or equivalent or co-enroll in a qualified program of study and in a program to earn high school credential that is recognized by the state of Louisiana.
- Have not previously earned an undergraduate degree at the associate level or above
- Not currently incarcerated
- Have not been convicted of any crime of violence.
- Have completed the on-line M.J. Foster Promise Application
- Agree to work full time in Louisiana for at least one year following the completion of the last program of study for which funding is received
- Have been unemployed or underemployed during the 6 months prior to applying OR have family income that is not greater than 300% of the federal poverty level for a family of your size.
- Household of 1 = $45,180
- Household of 2 = $61,320
- Household of 3 = $77,460
- Household of 4 = $93,600
- Household of 5 = $109,740
- For each additional household member, add $16,140
*The data provided above is based on 2024 federal poverty level guidelines. To view the most updated poverty thresholds and for households of six or more, visit the U.S. ASPE webpage.
Students may be eligible for the award up to a maximum period of three years and not to exceed $6,400, whichever is met first.
For programs which exceed one year, eligible students may qualify for up to $3,200 per academic year with a max of $1,600 per semester. Eligible students may utilize the full award of $6,400 for high-cost programs that can be completed in less than one year. Award amounts are NOT to exceed the cost of tuition, required fees, and mandatory books and instructional materials as charged on the student’s tuition and fee bill.
The M.J. Foster Award is calculated based on several factors:
- Student received the M.J. Foster Promise award for a previous semester
- Number of hours student is enrolled through the 14th class day
- Other sources of aid student is receiving
Initial Award (First time Payment): The M.J. Foster Promise award is applied/determined before all other federal, state, or institutional financial aid awards.
Example: Student is enrolled in 12 credit hours for the semester in a program that is more than one year in duration. The student qualifies for the Pell Grant of $4,000 for the semester. The student’s tuition and fee expenses are $2,000. The student has never used the M.J. Foster Promise award.
Based on this scenario, the student would qualify for $1,600 of the M.J. Foster Promise award and $4,000 of Pell Grant. The student would receive a refund of $3600 from the Pell Grant. In this example, the M.J. Foster Promise award was calculated as a “first dollar” award since this is the student’s initial award.
Continuing Award (Received Payment During Previous semester/term): The M.J. Foster Promise award is applied/determined only after all other federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid awards are accounted.
Example: Student is enrolled in 12 credit hours for the semester in a program that is more than one year in duration. The student qualifies for the Pell Grant of $4,000 for the semester. The student’s tuition and fee expenses are $2,000. Student has used the M.J. Foster Promise award a previous semester.
Based on this scenario, the student does NOT qualify to receive the M.J. Foster Promise award since the student’s Pell Grant award was enough to cover the student’s tuition and fee expenses. The M.J. Foster Promise award was used as a “last dollar” award.
***A student who is eligible for TOPS and M.J. Foster Promise Program will receive the highest award only.***
Contact LOSFA staff at MJFoster.Promise@la.gov for more information.
ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS AT SOLACC
- Application Software Development
- Automotive Technology
- Aviation Maintenance Technology
- Carpentry/Carpenter
- Civil Surveying and Mapping Technology
- CDL Training
- Commercial Diving
- Diesel-Powered Equipment Technology
- Digital Media
- Drafting and Design Technology
- Electrician
- Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic
- Fiber Optic
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration
- Healthcare (non credit)
- Classroom:
- Online:
- Behavioral Psychiatric Health Technician
- Certified Healthcare Document Specialist
- Health Information Technician
- Hemodialysis Technician with Externship
- Medical Administrative Assistant with EHR
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing
- Medical Billing & Coding Professional
- Medical Office Manager
- Medical Transcription and Editing
- Mental Health Technician Program
- Pharmacy Technician (ASHP)
- Physical Therapy Aide
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Industrial Agriculture Mechanics Technology
- Industrial Electronics
- Industrial Marine Electronics Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Information Technology
- Marine Operations
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Nursing
- Plumbing
- Power Lineman
- Practical Nursing
- Precision Machining
- Structural Fitter
- Welding
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