SOWELA vs. Fortis College-Baton Rouge

Comparable Facts

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

SOWELA Technical Community College is larger than Fortis College-Baton Rouge based on total student enrollment (3,446 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SOWELA Technical Community College is located in Lake Charles, LA (Small City setting); Fortis College Baton Rouge is in Baton Rouge, LA (Midsize City setting).
• SOWELA Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Baton Rouge is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SOWELA Technical Community College 19:1; Fortis College Baton Rouge 32:1.

SOWELA vs. Fortis College-Baton Rouge Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SOWELA or Fortis College-Baton Rouge? 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 Fortis College-Baton Rouge ($8,814 vs. $25,781).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fortis College Baton Rouge are 4.4% lower than at SOWELA Technical Community College ($11,277 vs. $11,802).
• Fortis College Baton Rouge is 282.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SOWELA (about $12,162 more per year; $16,467.00 vs. $4,305.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 282.5% higher at Fortis College-Baton Rouge than at SOWELA Technical Community College (about $12,162 more per year; $16,467.00 vs. $4,305.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Baton Rouge than at SOWELA Technical Community College (100% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by SOWELA Technical Community College students is 12.7% larger than aid received by Fortis College Baton Rouge students ($8,284 vs. $7,352).

SOWELA vs. Fortis College-Baton Rouge Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SOWELA or Fortis College-Baton Rouge? 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 Fortis College-Baton Rouge 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; Fortis College-Baton Rouge - Open admission.

SOWELA vs. Fortis College-Baton Rouge Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SOWELA and Fortis College-Baton Rouge? 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 Fortis College-Baton Rouge students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 23%)

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.