SOWELA Technical Community College
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in Louisiana- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,303 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $7,525 A-
- 56% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,966
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in Louisiana.
Every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years. Net gain: $621,299.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 21% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 43% — 25% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,966
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Construction Trades, Humanities, Health Professions
Why students choose SOWELA Technical Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,525 a year after grants and scholarships — 56% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,303 ten years after enrolling — 21% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.88 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
SOWELA Technical Community College serves about 2,966 students and is an excellent fit for those looking to gain practical skills in fields like Construction Trades, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, Health Professions, and Humanities. What stands out here is the focus on hands-on training and immediate job readiness, catering to individuals who want to jump into the workforce quickly. With a graduation rate of 43%, it’s clear that while some students might face challenges, many find their footing and complete their programs.
After graduation, students see a median earnings of $32,303 within ten years. This income level suggests that graduates can find their place in the workforce and start building their lives. The affordability of attending SOWELA is another important factor, with a net price of $7,525 after aid, making it accessible for many. For those receiving Pell Grants, which is 46% of the student body, financial support can help ease the burden of college costs.
In practical terms, students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and are motivated by the desire for practical skills that lead to immediate employment. While we don’t have specific figures on debt load, the low net price suggests that students can graduate with manageable financial obligations. Overall, SOWELA is a strong choice for those looking to gain a foothold in their careers without a hefty price tag.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective SOWELA Technical Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into SOWELA Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Lake Charles, Louisiana, SOWELA Technical Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Retention Rate
- 59%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 64%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,051
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.54
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend SOWELA Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at SOWELA Technical Community College is $4,305, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,525. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,439 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,305
- Out-of-State
- $4,305
- Avg Net Price
- $7,525
- Pell Grant Rate
- 46%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,439
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,864
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,411
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at SOWELA Technical Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is SOWELA Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of SOWELA Technical Community College report median earnings of $32,303, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,044
- 8 Years
- $32,061
- 10 Years
- $32,303
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 25%
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (167)
- 29%
- 100% (167)
- 29%
- 100% (167)
- 29%
- 100% (167)
- 29%
How SOWELA Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is SOWELA Technical Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, SOWELA Technical Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,525/year ($30,100 total). Graduates earn $32,303 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $651,399 in total earnings — a net gain of $621,299 (21.6× your investment).. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $30,100
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $651,399
- Net Return
- $621,299
- ROI Multiple
- 21.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,525
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,913,239
- Federal Grants
- $1,186,215
- Investment Income
- $-148,935
Top Programs
The fields SOWELA Technical Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 15% $29,384 early-career
- Construction Trades 15%
- Humanities 10%
- Health Professions 6% $36,562 early-career
- Precision Production 6%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Culinary & Personal Services 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for SOWELA Technical Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into SOWELA Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Lake Charles, Louisiana, SOWELA Technical Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend SOWELA Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at SOWELA Technical Community College is $4,305, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,525. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,439 after need-based grants.
Is SOWELA Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of SOWELA Technical Community College report median earnings of $32,303, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is SOWELA Technical Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at SOWELA Technical Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.88, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to SOWELA Technical Community College.
- Savannah Technical CollegeSavannah, GA · Close peer40% grad $33,018 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Louisiana Delta Community CollegeMonroe, LA · Close peer29% grad $30,438 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price · same state
- Alamance Community CollegeGraham, NC · Close peer38% grad $34,241 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Athens Technical CollegeAthens, GA · Close peer44% grad $35,951 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar net price
- Southwest Texas CollegeUvalde, TX · Close peer32% grad $35,563 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegePaducah, KY · Close peer49% grad $34,891 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is SOWELA Technical Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at SOWELA Technical Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.88, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note