SOWELA Technical Community College (SOWELA)
Public certificate school in Lake Charles, LA that costs an average of $6,795 a year after financial aid and graduates 48% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$6,795
Acceptance rate
Open
Graduation rate
48%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$39,491
PublicSmall city2,966 undergraduates
Cost of SOWELA
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $15,188 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $4,305 |
| Books and supplies | $1,385 |
| Average net price after aid | $6,795 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $7,130 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $6,450 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $5,703 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $7,554 |
| $110,001+ | $10,608 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with SOWELA's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | Open admission (everyone admitted) |
|---|
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 48% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 59% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $38,008 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $39,491 |
| Rank in Louisiana (earnings) | 7th of 53 similar colleges |
| Students with Pell grants | 45% |
| Students with federal loans | 1.0% |
Majors and programs at SOWELA
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Certificate programs (22)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 126 | — | — |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | — | — | — |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | — | — | — |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 163 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 215 | — | — |
| Carpenters | 55 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 15 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 167 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 77 | — | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | 199 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 19 | — | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 82 | — | — |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 552 | — | — |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | 457 | — | — |
| Forestry | 37 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 355 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 270 | — | — |
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | 41 | — | — |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | 29 | — | — |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 118 | — | — |
| Precision Metal Working | 280 | — | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 145 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (19)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 176 | $86,981 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 93 | $74,341 | — |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | 187 | $54,883 | — |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 183 | $53,028 | — |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 59 | $48,435 | — |
| Business/Commerce | 85 | $29,784 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 23 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 19 | — | — |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 5 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 50 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 39 | — | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | 19 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 14 | — | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 29 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 46 | — | — |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other | — | — | — |
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | 12 | — | — |
| Precision Metal Working | 8 | — | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 10 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Louisiana
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Delta Community College | Monroe | $11,672 | — | $34,430 |
| Northshore Technical Community College | Lacombe | $8,484 | — | $34,133 |
| Fletcher Technical Community College | Schriever | $9,493 | — | $37,504 |
| River Parishes Community College | Gonzales | $8,411 | — | $40,167 |
| Bossier Parish Community College | Bossier City | $8,389 | — | $37,382 |
| South Louisiana Community College | Lafayette | $9,430 | — | $37,569 |
| Nunez Community College | Chalmette | $8,271 | — | $40,271 |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | Alexandria | $5,162 | — | $35,811 |
About SOWELA
| Type | Public certificate school |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Charles, LA |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 2,966 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 19 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | sowela.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
How much does SOWELA cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $15,188 a year (tuition and fees: $4,305). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $6,795 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $7,130.
How much do SOWELA graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $39,491 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 7th of 53 similar colleges in Louisiana.
What is SOWELA's graduation rate?
48% of full-time students graduate within 150% of the normal program length, and 59% of first-year students return for a second year.