If you’re 55 or older and live in Louisiana, state law provides a pretty unusual college benefit: qualifying residents may be able to attend a public college or university without paying tuition or registration fees and get 50% off certain required course materials.
But there’s an important catch. This benefit depends on the Louisiana Legislature providing enough funding to reimburse colleges for the costs they waive.
So before enrolling and counting on free tuition, you’ll want to confirm that the benefit is currently funded and available through the school you plan to attend.
Who Qualifies?
Under Louisiana Revised Statutes §17:1807, you must:
- Be 55 or older
- Be a Louisiana resident
- Register for one or more courses at a Louisiana public college or university
The statute itself doesn’t establish an income limit for this benefit.
You don’t necessarily have to be pursuing a full degree, either. The law requires registration in one or more courses rather than enrollment in a particular degree program.
What Does the Benefit Cover?
When funding is available, qualifying students receive an exemption from:
- Tuition
- Other registration fees
The law also provides a 50% reduction on required:
- Textbooks
- Reference books
- Manuals
- Other instructional aids
To receive the 50% reduction, the eligible materials must be purchased from a bookstore operated by a Louisiana public college or university.
Does It Cover Online Classes?
Yes.
Louisiana law specifically says the benefit applies regardless of the instructional format.
That means qualifying courses may be:
- In person
- Online
- A combination of in-person and online instruction
The format of the course itself doesn’t eliminate eligibility for the exemption.
What’s the Catch?
This is the part you need to understand before making plans around the benefit.
Louisiana law says the tuition exemption and course-material discount are provided only if and to the extent that sufficient funds have been appropriated by the Legislature.
The state is supposed to reimburse public colleges and universities for the revenue they lose by providing these exemptions.
Louisiana uses the Pursuing Rewarding, Innovative, and Meaningful Education Fund, or PRIME Fund, as part of that reimbursement system.
Disbursements from the PRIME Fund for this purpose are capped at $200 per credit hour.
That $200 figure is important to understand correctly: it is a limit on disbursements from the fund, not a promise that an eligible student receives $200 per credit hour.
Is the Benefit Funded Right Now?
The age-55 benefit remains established in Louisiana law.
However, we were not able to verify from current public records that sufficient funding has been appropriated to provide the full benefit to every eligible student at every Louisiana public college or university for the current academic year.
That doesn’t mean the benefit has disappeared.
It means you shouldn’t enroll assuming your tuition will automatically be waived without first checking with your school.
Before registering or paying tuition, contact the public college or university you want to attend and ask whether the Louisiana R.S. 17:1807 age-55 tuition exemption is currently funded and available.
How Do I Use the Benefit?
There isn’t one statewide application process described in the statute.
Because implementation can depend on the institution and available funding, start by contacting the registrar, admissions office, bursar or another appropriate student-services office at the Louisiana public college or university you want to attend.
Ask:
- Whether the R.S. 17:1807 age-55 exemption is currently available
- How the school applies the tuition and registration-fee exemption
- What documentation you’ll need to prove your age and Louisiana residency
- How to receive the 50% discount on qualifying course materials
- Whether there are any school-specific steps you need to complete before registering or paying
It’s worth doing this before you pay tuition, rather than assuming the exemption will automatically appear on your account.
Is This Still Available Right Now?
The law establishing the benefit is still in effect.
What requires more caution is the funding.
Because Louisiana law specifically makes the benefit dependent on sufficient legislative appropriations, the existence of the statute doesn’t necessarily mean every eligible student at every public institution will have the full benefit available at a particular time.
Confirm current availability directly with your school before making financial decisions based on the exemption.
Relief Recap
Louisiana residents age 55 and older may qualify for a valuable education benefit at the state’s public colleges and universities.
When sufficient funding is available, the law provides qualifying students with an exemption from tuition and registration fees, plus a 50% reduction on certain required textbooks and instructional materials purchased through a public college or university-operated bookstore.
There’s no income limit written into the statute, and the benefit can apply to in-person, online and hybrid courses.
The biggest thing to remember is that the benefit depends on state funding. Before enrolling, contact the Louisiana public college or university you want to attend and confirm that the age-55 exemption is currently available.
If you’re also helping a younger family member explore ways to pay for college, our guide to The MJ Foster Promise Program is another Louisiana resource worth checking.
