- 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-Morgan Smith Campus serves 150 students
The college's student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is lower than the state community college average of 23:1.
Minority enrollment is 100% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 60%.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Enrollment: 150 students
- Student:teacher ratio: 16:1
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
SOWELA Technical Community College-Morgan Smith Campus ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Louisiana for:
Category
Attribute
School Overview
SOWELA Technical Community College-Morgan Smith Campus
(LA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates--Public Rural-serving Small
Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional
Institution Level
Less than 2 yrs
At least 2 yrs but < 4 yrs
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
n/a
54 staff
Number of Programs Offered
7
10
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of SOWELA Technical Community College-Morgan Smith Campus has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The SOWELA Technical Community College-Morgan Smith Campus diversity score of 0.00 is less than the state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
150 students
722 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
23:1
# Full-Time Students
n/a
329 students
# Part-Time Students
n/a
393 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
n/a
394 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
73 students
311 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
17 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
n/a
844 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
1 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
217 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
n/a
5%
% Black
n/a
41%
% White
n/a
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
n/a
2%
% Non Resident races
n/a
1%
% Unknown races
100%
7%
Diversity Score
n/a
0.66
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years) (Year 2010)
15%
42%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
31%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years) (Year 2010)
$31,000
$31,000
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
85%
76%
Median Debt for Graduates
n/a
$12,567
Median Debt for Dropouts
n/a
$5,500
Acceptance Rate
n/a
94%
ACT Composite
n/a
21
ACT English
n/a
21
ACT Math
n/a
20
Source: 2023 (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 campus is conveniently located to most regions of Southwest Louisiana, and our online courses can help you juggle the busy lifestyles of today.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- -
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are famous alumni from SOWELA Technical Community College-Morgan Smith Campus?
SOWELA Technical Community College-Morgan Smith Campus famous alumni include: .
What is SOWELA Technical Community College-Morgan Smith Campus's ranking?
SOWELA Technical Community College-Morgan Smith Campus ranks among the top 20% of community college in Louisiana for: Average community college minority breakdown.
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