Bossier Parish Community College vs. SOWELA

Comparable Facts

Compare Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, LA with SOWELA Technical Community College in Lake Charles, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bossier Parish Community College is larger than SOWELA based on total student enrollment (5,561 students vs. 3,446 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bossier Parish Community College is located in Bossier City, LA (Rural Fringe setting); SOWELA Technical Community College is in Lake Charles, LA (Small City setting).
• Bossier Parish Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. SOWELA Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bossier Parish Community College 25:1; SOWELA Technical Community College 19:1.

Bossier Parish Community College vs. SOWELA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bossier Parish Community College or SOWELA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SOWELA Technical Community College than Bossier Parish Community College ($8,814 vs. $10,992).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Bossier Parish Community College and SOWELA ($11,802).
• SOWELA Technical Community College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bossier Parish Community College (about $22 more per year; $4,305.00 vs. $4,283.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at SOWELA than at Bossier Parish Community College (about $22 more per year; $4,305.00 vs. $4,283.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SOWELA Technical Community College than at Bossier Parish Community College (86% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by SOWELA Technical Community College students is 32% larger than aid received by Bossier Parish Community College students ($8,284 vs. $6,278).

Bossier Parish Community College vs. SOWELA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bossier Parish Community College or SOWELA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SOWELA and Bossier Parish Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bossier Parish Community College - Open admission; SOWELA - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman SOWELA students have a 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at Bossier Parish Community College (2.44).

Bossier Parish Community College vs. SOWELA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bossier Parish Community College and SOWELA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• More SOWELA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bossier Parish Community College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 24%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.