- The mission of SOWELA Technical Community College is to provide a lifelong learning and teaching environment designed to afford every student an equal opportunity to develop to his/her full potential. SOWELA Technical Community College is a public, comprehensive technical community college offering programs including associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates as well as noncredit courses. The college is committed to accessible and affordable quality education, relevant training, and retraining by providing post-secondary academic and technical education to meet the educational advancement and workforce development needs of the community.
School Highlights
SOWELA Technical Community College serves 3,446 students (54% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 27:1 is lower than the state community college average of 38:1.
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 59%.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Enrollment: 3,446 students
- In-state tuition: $3,662
- Out-state tuition: $6,590
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Student-teacher ratio: 27:1
- Minority enrollment: 37%
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
SOWELA Technical Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Louisiana for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
School Overview
The teacher population of 128 teachers has declined by 45% over five years.
SOWELA Technical Community College
(LA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
0
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
4
Institution Control
Public
0
Total Faculty
128 staff
18 staff
Number of Programs Offered
-2
6
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of SOWELA Technical Community College has declined by 15% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 27:1 has increased from 17:1 over five years.
The SOWELA Technical Community College diversity score of 0.54 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has declined by 13% over five years.
Total Enrollment
3,446 students
678 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
27:1
38:1
# Full-Time Students
1,854 students
270 students
# Part-Time Students
1,592 students
408 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
243 students
399 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,854 students
270 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
4 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,592 students
1,218 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
1 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
228 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
6%
5%
% Black
23%
40%
% White
63%
41%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
2%
% Non Resident races
1%
1%
% Unknown races
1%
9%
Diversity Score
0.54
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
40%
39%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$35,800
$31,100
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The public in-state tuition of $3,662 is more than the state average of $2,971. The in-state tuition has declined by 14% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,590 is more than the state average of $6,004. The out-state tuition has grown by 54% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$3,662
$2,971
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,590
$6,004
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
86%
90%
Median Debt for Graduates
$3,750
$9,994
Median Debt for Dropouts
$3,500
$5,500
Acceptance Rate
100%
92%
ACT Composite
n/a
21
ACT English
n/a
21
ACT Math
n/a
20
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
10 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Be the MatchCriminal Justice Club
Fishing ClubGraphic Arts Club
Louisiana Restaurant Association Student ChapterNational Technical Honor Society
Phi Beta LambdaPhi Theta Kappa Honor Society
SkillsUSAStudent Government Association
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
School Notes
- SOWELA Technical Community College was created in 1938 by the Louisiana Legislature as The Southwest Louisiana Trades School of Lake Charles, Louisiana. While it has had a variety of names over the past, its mission has always been the same: to provide opportunities for people to qualify for jobs which will lead to meaningful and productive careers. If you wish to earn a degree or diploma in a program of study, or if you only want to take a few classes to learn a specific skill or to upgrade existing skills, SOWELA is here to assist you. If you want to enrich your life by learning something that you've always wanted to know to specialize in a particular kind of culinary art, for example we can help you do that. SOWELA's small class sizes, affordable tuition, highly qualified faculty, convenient class times, beautiful campus, and a wide variety of student services combine to make it the right choice for many people. At SOWELA, you will see state-of-the-art curricula, facilities and equipment. Our campuses are conveniently located to most regions of Southwest Louisiana, and our online courses can help you juggle the busy lifestyles of today. Visit our website for more information about programs offered at our Lake Charles, Jennings, Oakdale, and Leesville campuses today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SOWELA Technical Community College cost?
SOWELA Technical Community College's tuition is approximately $3,662 for In-State students and $6,590 for Out-State students.
What is the acceptance rate of SOWELA Technical Community College?
The acceptance rate of SOWELA Technical Community College is 100%, which is higher than the state average of 92%.
What is SOWELA Technical Community College's ranking?
SOWELA Technical Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Louisiana for: Largest student body.
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