SOWELA vs. Lamar State College-Orange

Comparable Facts

Compare SOWELA Technical Community College in Lake Charles, LA with Lamar State College Orange in Orange, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lamar State College Orange is larger than SOWELA based on total student enrollment (3,629 students vs. 3,446 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SOWELA Technical Community College is located in Lake Charles, LA (Small City setting); Lamar State College Orange is in Orange, TX (Distant Town setting).
• SOWELA Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lamar State College Orange is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SOWELA Technical Community College 19:1; Lamar State College Orange 23:1.

SOWELA vs. Lamar State College-Orange Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SOWELA or Lamar State College-Orange? 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 Lamar State College Orange than SOWELA ($600 vs. $8,814).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lamar State College Orange are 19.6% lower than at SOWELA Technical Community College ($9,486 vs. $11,802).
• SOWELA Technical Community College is 21.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Orange (about $765 more per year; $4,305.00 vs. $3,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 301.4% higher at Lamar State College-Orange than at SOWELA Technical Community College (about $12,975 more per year; $17,280.00 vs. $4,305.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SOWELA Technical Community College than at Lamar State College Orange (86% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by SOWELA Technical Community College students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Lamar State College Orange students ($8,284 vs. $6,302).

SOWELA vs. Lamar State College-Orange Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SOWELA or Lamar State College-Orange? 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 Lamar State College-Orange and SOWELA.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SOWELA - Open admission; Lamar State College-Orange - Open admission.

SOWELA vs. Lamar State College-Orange Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SOWELA and Lamar State College-Orange? 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 Lamar State College-Orange students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 33%)

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.