SOWELA Technical Community College campus
SOWELA Technical Community College logo

SOWELA Technical Community College

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale City: Small
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Student to faculty ratio 16 to 1
Students retention rate 62%
On-time graduation rate 43%

Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, SOWELA is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of SOWELA Technical Community College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

SOWELA Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at SOWELA is reported to be 43%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Louisiana state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 42% whereas the national average was 35%.

The student retention rate of 62% at SOWELA suggests that a significant percentage of students choose to continue their studies at the institution after their first-year.


  • Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

In-State Tuition & Fees

$4,265

Cost of attendance at SOWELA Technical Community College in 2022 for students from Louisiana.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Louisiana's average $8,756
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$4,265

Cost of attendance at SOWELA Technical Community College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Louisiana's average $18,188
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 88 of freshman students at SOWELA Technical Community College received on average $5,644 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$5,644
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 215 53% $5,055 $1,086,882
Other Federal Grant 217 53% $5,866 $1,272,918
State Grant/Scholarships 235 58% $2,857 $671,429
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 88 22% $930 $81,866
Total Grant & Scholarships 359 88% $5,644 $2,026,213

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of SOWELA Technical Community College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of SOWELA Technical Community College students is 43.4%. Female students graduated at a rate of 37.4%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 49.2%.

43.4%

  • African American 34.1% 44 students
  • white 47.4% 185 students
  • hispanic 22.2% 4 students
  • Mixed Race 51.8% 14 students

Service Offerings

SOWELA Technical Community College provides the following additional services to its students
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

SOWELA Technical Community College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Credit for military training