- 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 4,000 students (46% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 31:1 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 58%.
Quick Facts (26-27)
- Enrollment: 4,000 students
- In-state tuition: $3,662
- Out-state tuition: $6,590
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Student-teacher ratio: 31:1
- 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
Associate's--Public Suburban-serving Multicampus
Institution Level
Less than 2 yrs
At least 2 yrs but < 4 yrs
Institution Control
Public
Public
Year Founded
1938
Total Faculty
128 staff
18 staff
School Calendar
School Motto
Education That Works
AccreditationAccred.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Student Body
The student population of SOWELA Technical Community College has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 31:1 has increased from 17:1 over five years.
The SOWELA Technical Community College diversity score of 0.54 is less than the state average of 0.65. The school's diversity has declined by 13% over five years.
Total Enrollment
4,000 students
678 students
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Student-Teacher Ratio
31:1
38:1
Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
# Full-Time Students
1,854 students
270 students
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
# Part-Time Students
1,592 students
408 students
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
# Enrollment Undergraduate
3,446 students
315 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,854 students
270 students
Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,592 students
1,218 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
1%
Showing 2011–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
1%
1%
Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
6%
5%
Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
23%
40%
Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% White
63%
42%
Showing 2010–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Two or more races
4%
2%
% Non Resident races
1%
1%
% Unknown races
1%
8%
Diversity Score
0.54
0.65
Showing 2011–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
40%
39%
Showing 2015–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$35,800
$31,100
Tuition & Financial Aid
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%
Showing 2012–2025. Full 18-year historical data available below ↓
Median Debt for Graduates
$3,750
$9,994
Median Debt for Dropouts
$3,500
$5,250
Acceptance Rate
100%
92%
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
9 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Be the MatchCriminal Justice Club
Graphic Arts ClubLouisiana Restaurant Association Student Chapter
National Technical Honor SocietyPhi Beta Lambda
Phi Theta Kappa Honor SocietySkillsUSA
Student 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!
Profile last updated: 09/08/2026
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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