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SOWELA Technical Community College
Lake Charles, Louisiana · Public technical college · Training programs available:
Address: 3820 Senator J. Bennett Johnston Ave, Lake Charles, LA 70615 · Phone: (337) 421-6565 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
SOWELA Technical Community College is a public trade school in Lake Charles, Louisiana, offering electrician, culinary, and welding programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education among others.
SOWELA's completion rate is 42.7%, below the state average of 59.2%, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $32,303, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for SOWELA Technical Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and 45.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $38,750 | $61,540 | $72,840 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $32,320 | $45,570 | $59,020 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $42,810 | $62,250 | $77,310 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $45,810 | $57,470 | $61,220 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $30,230 | $46,400 | $62,060 |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $47,840 | $79,780 | $91,020 |
| Construction laborers | $29,650 | $38,230 | $47,300 |
| Machinists | $39,930 | $61,110 | $75,170 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $38,120 | $63,680 | $74,870 |
| Surgical technologists | $36,580 | $57,370 | $62,790 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Louisiana (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 105 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 102 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 92 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 68 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 55 | $37,040 | $30,771 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 49 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 45 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 44 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 41 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 33 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Associate degree | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 23 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 2–4 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
SOWELA Technical Community College is a public trade and career training campus located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Council on Occupational Education, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) applies to students here. Across 27 program offerings, the campus awards the most credentials in electrician schools (357 completers), culinary and pastry schools (120), and welding schools (93), alongside programs in LPN training, auto and aviation mechanics, construction trades, CNC machining, plumbing, and surgical technology.
In terms of outcomes, SOWELA's completion rate is 42.7%, which is below the state average of 59.2%. Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $32,303. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data, and annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 45.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
With 804 trade completers and an undergraduate enrollment of 2,966 in a small-city setting, SOWELA offers a range of programs from short-term certificates to longer occupational tracks across trades like electrical work, culinary arts, and welding. Prospective students, including career changers, should verify current program lengths, schedules, and costs directly with the school and can check accreditation and outcomes independently through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
SOWELA offers 27 programs across families including electrician schools, culinary schools, welding schools, LPN programs, auto and aviation mechanic schools, construction trades, CNC machining, plumbing, and surgical tech. The top programs by completions are electrician schools (357), culinary & pastry schools (120), and welding schools (93).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, SOWELA is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Council on Occupational Education, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
SOWELA's completion rate is 42.7%, which is below the Louisiana state average of 59.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (337) 421-6565 or check the College Scorecard for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $32,303, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact SOWELA directly or visit sowela.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
SOWELA is a public institution, which often means lower tuition rates than for-profit schools and eligibility for state funding.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status and review federal outcome data through the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?160579.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and format details needed to assess career-changer fit are not reported in this data; contact the school to discuss scheduling options for working adults.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in this data; contact SOWELA directly for program-specific credentialing information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach SOWELA at (337) 421-6565 or visit https://www.sowela.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; use the College Scorecard to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across institutions.
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See all trade and career schools in Louisiana or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.