College grads without student debt are 7 times wealthier than their indebted peers

[barchief]

Please qualify your definition of "Middle Class", cause our politicians are all over the board on that one.

In the context of this discussion, I am simply talking about anyone that makes more than the level that would qualify your for a Pell Grant.

I would probably be considered in that "upper half of middle class", but especially with TWO kids starting UL this fall, there is NO WAY that I would be able to afford to send them to college without them having debt. Heck.. even with their TOPS and athletic scholarships and an additional academic one, one of my boys is going to end up with about 14K in debt when they graduate and the other one will have about 18K.

[CajunT]

Whether you have to fill out a FASFA or not is irrelevant. It doesn't matter WHAT your income level is.. the TOPS award is standard regardless of if you make 10K a year or 100K a year. The award is different year to year because of the tuition increase of the individual university.

What do you do mean "Whether you have to fill out a FASFA or not is irrelevant". If it's not relevant, then why do I have to continue to provide that information yearly? If the FASFA is not part of the yearly adjustment, then why does the state need to know that information?

[barchief]

What do you do mean "Whether you have to fill out a FASFA or not is irrelevant". If it's not relevant, then why do I have to continue to provide that information yearly? If the FASFA is not part of the yearly adjustment, then why does the state need to know that information?

Filling out the FAFSA is actually not a requirement for TOPS...

according to https://www.osfa.la.gov/AwardSystem/...eAppFAFSA.jspx

you only HAVE to fill out the FAFSA for the following reasons

1. You Must Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if:

You think your family will qualify for need based financial aid or federal grant aid (click here for determination of federal grant aid eligibility)

OR

You want to be considered for all programs, including TOPS, Federal grants, student loans and work study jobs,

OR

You are an “Independent Student.” (24 years of age or older, Married, a Veteran, Has a Legal Dependent, a Graduate or Professional School Student, an Orphan or Ward of the Court, or Determined “Independent” by a College Financial Aid Officer)