SOWELA also ranked No. 27 nationally for all U.S. community colleges
(Lake Charles) – For the third straight year, SOWELA is ranked No. 1 in Louisiana in WalletHub’s “Best Community Colleges in the U.S.” The Lake Charles institution also received a national ranking of No. 27 in the same rankings.
Overall, WalletHub scored SOWELA at 64.99 with the score being comprised of WalletHub’s measuring of each community college’s “Career Outcomes,” “Education Outcomes,” and “Cost and Financing.” SOWELA’s score is more than eight points higher than the next Louisiana community college listed in the rankings.
In addition to the overall rankings, SOWELA ranks 25th for Career Outcomes. The ranking of 25th is comprised of SOWELA’s student-loan default rate, median salary after attending and share of former students earning above the average earning of a high school graduate. The Career Outcomes score counts as 33 percent of a community college’s total ranking.
SOWELA also received a national ranking of 76th “Education Outcomes. Education Outcomes is a ranking reflective of first-year retention rate, graduation rate, transfer-out rate, credentials award per 100 students, student-faculty ratio, share of full-time faculty, presence of special learning opportunities and presence of credit for life experiences. The Education Outcomes score comprises 33 percent of a community college’s total ranking.
“I am very pleased but not surprised that SOWELA has again been ranked the number one community college in Louisiana for the third straight year (2018,2019,2020). We have an excellent and committed faculty and staff who pride themselves on customer/student service,” said SOWELA Chancellor Dr. Neil Aspinwall. “They strive to ensure that our students are provided the skills and knowledge they need to gain access to better and higher paying jobs that provide a better way of life for themselves and their families not to mention enhancing the economic viability of the SWLA region. SOWELA’s commitment to student success has consistently helped the College rank number one in the State and for 2020, #27 in the nation. I am very proud and honored to lead such a progressive and high performing college.”
In order to determine the best community colleges in the U.S., WalletHub selected a sample of 698 schools from the list of member institutions in the American Association of Community Colleges (opens new window).
Registration for SOWELA’s Spring 2021 starts Monday, November 30, and new students can enroll online at www.sowela.edu/apply.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree, so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 80 years.