SOWELA vs. River Parishes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

SOWELA Technical Community College is larger than River Parishes Community College based on total student enrollment (3,446 students vs. 2,597 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SOWELA Technical Community College is located in Lake Charles, LA (Small City setting); River Parishes Community College is in Gonzales, LA (Rural Fringe setting).
• SOWELA Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. River Parishes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SOWELA Technical Community College 19:1; River Parishes Community College 24:1.

SOWELA vs. River Parishes Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SOWELA or River Parishes Community College? 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 River Parishes Community College ($8,814 vs. $10,582).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at SOWELA Technical Community College and River Parishes Community College ($11,802).
• SOWELA Technical Community College is 5.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than River Parishes Community College (about $226 more per year; $4,305.00 vs. $4,079.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at SOWELA than at River Parishes Community College (about $226 more per year; $4,305.00 vs. $4,079.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SOWELA Technical Community College than at River Parishes Community College (86% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by SOWELA Technical Community College students is 53.9% larger than aid received by River Parishes Community College students ($8,284 vs. $5,382).

SOWELA vs. River Parishes Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SOWELA or River Parishes Community College? 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 River Parishes Community College 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; River Parishes Community College - Open admission.

SOWELA vs. River Parishes Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SOWELA and River Parishes Community College? 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 River Parishes 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.