Debt by Degrees » Louisiana

This database was last updated in March 2017 and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data is available from the U.S. Dept. of Education’s College Scorecard.

Type

Public, 2-year

Classification

Predominately Associate Degrees College

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Schools in Louisiana »

SOWELA Technical Community College

Lake Charles, La. | www.sowela.edu

Type: Public, 2-year

Classification: Predominately Associate Degrees College

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Schools in Louisiana »

Rankings

This school is ranked against other Public, 2-year Predominately Associate's Degrees Colleges.

Pell Grantees
42.11, 57.89 42.1%
of undergraduates in 2014
High Low
Rank #422 out of 900
Discount Off Total Cost i
44%
for low-income families
High Low
Rank #576 out of 893
Median Federal Debt i
N/A
for Pell grantees
Graduation Rate (2013) i
N/A
for Pell grantees

Although higher education has long been seen as a class equalizer, not everybody can take on the debt necessary to afford it. The Pell Grant program was established in 1965 to help poor students attend college without taking on loans that limit their options later in life, but the program has not kept pace with the rapid growth of tuition. Some schools with large endowments use their resources to make tuition cheaper for poor students, while others expect even the poorest students to take on substantial debt.

During School

Though Pell Grant money is crucial, attending college can still require large student loans if a prospective student doesn’t choose a school carefully. Data only for students who receive any federal aid.

Total Annual Cost (2014)
$13,135
including tuition, books & living expenses
High Low
Rank #619 out of 894
Avg. Spending on Instruction
$3,848
Per Student
Low-Income Students Paid
$7,402
per year, on average
High Low
Rank #604 out of 897
Income Level Avg. Cost
$0-30k $7,402
$30k-48k $7,569
$48k-75k $8,631
$75k-110k $10,240
Over $110k N/A
All $7,542

This School’s Price Calculator»

Discount
44%
off the total cost, per year
High Low
Rank #576 out of 893

At Graduation

Especially if students are not pursuing potentially lucrative majors, such as so-called STEM disciplines or law, their school choices can have a big effect on their income and ability to pay off college debt. Recent graduates can fall behind on their loans quickly, and unlike other kinds of debt, student loans are not forgiven through bankruptcy.

Median Federal Debt (All)
N/A
Median Federal Debt (Pell Students)
N/A
Graduation Rate (Within Six Years)
37.3%
High Low
Rank #67 out of 899

Drop-Outs Have Debt Too

Students who drop out of school still have to pay back the loans they took out. This can be a double whammy for them: With large debts to pay off and no college degrees, their career options are limited and their expected earnings are lower.

Median Federal Debt of Students Who Drop Out
N/A

Years Later

The choices 18 year olds make about where to go to school — and how much debt to take on to pay for it — matter enormously over the long haul. Although everybody knows this instinctively, the U.S. Department of Education worked with Treasury Department data to work out the details, including, for each school, average salary and debt levels 10 years after students enter school.

How Graduates Fare 3 Years After Graduation

A new measure, the nonrepayment rate, includes all students who are unable to pay off any of the principal on their student loans. The traditional measure, the default rate, does not include students who may be in deferment or forbearance. Federal loans only.

Nonrepayment Rate (All)
60.5%
3-Year Rate, Federal Loans
High Low
Rank #372 out of 782
Nonrepayment Rate (Pell Students)
72.9%
3-Year Rate, Federal Loans
High Low
Rank #515 out of 747
Default Rate
23.4%
3-Year Cohort, Federal Loans
High Low
Rank #650 out of 805

How Students Fare 10 Years After Entering School

This includes salary data starting 10 years after a student enters school. Typically this means 6 years after graduation, but some students take longer to complete school. Data only for students who have received federal aid.

Median monthly debt payments
N/A
(10-year amortization plan)
Median Income (2012)
N/A
Students working and not enrolled
Earns $25k or Less Per Year (2012)
N/A
Includes unemployed and not looking for work

About the School

In 2014, SOWELA Technical Community College had a N/A admissions rate. It had 2,810 undergraduate students, 37% of which were part-time. 0.0% of its undergraduates took out federal loans.

Demographics
White 62.5%
Black 27.2%
Hispanic 2.0%
Asian 0.6%
Other 7.8%