Wallethub: Sowela one of best community college deals

<p class="indent">The return on investment at Sowela Technical Community College is better than any community college in Louisiana and one of the best in the nation, according to the personal finance website Wallethub.</p><p class="indent">The site evaluated the cost and financing for more than 700 community colleges, along with educational and career outcomes. It found that the average cost to attend community colleges can be nearly three times cheaper than fouryear institutions.</p><p class="indent">Anna Daigle, Sowela’s executive director of enrollment management and student affairs, said their priority is keeping tuition costs low “so that students can afford to attend Sowela without becoming indebted.” A full-time student at Sowela spends an average of $2,132 per semester.</p><p class="indent">Sowela does not participate in the federal student loan program, but it does offset tuition costs through institutional scholarships, state and federal programs such as work study, TOPS and pell grants.</p><p class="indent">WalletHub noted that community colleges are also a valuable option because they accommodate “students who need to balance their studies with other commitments, such as family and work.”</p><p class="indent">Daigle said Sowela offers day, night and online classes. It also provides students with free tutoring and Student Success Workshops throughout the semester.</p><p class="indent">Sowela was the only college in the Southeast to be ranked nationally as having a favorable return on investment.</p><p class="indent">Neil Aspinwall, Sowela chancellor, said the ranking shows the college’s commitment to be “very efficient with the utilization of streaming funds.”</p><p class="indent">“Students do not have to invest a great deal of a money in order to obtain the skills and knowledge they need to enter the workforce,” he said.</p><p class="indent">For the complete list, visit <span class="text_link link_wrap type_url" data-link-type="URL" data-link-target="http://www.wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-communitycolleges/15076/#rankings-bystate">www.wallethub.com/edu/</span><span class="text_link link_wrap type_url" data-link-type="URL" data-link-target="http://www.wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-communitycolleges/15076/#rankings-bystate">best-worst-communitycolleges/15076/#rankings-bystate</span>.</p><hr /><p class="indent"><strong>Online</strong>: <span class="text_link link_wrap type_url" data-link-type="URL" data-link-target="http://sowela.edu">sowela.edu</span>.</p>””<p>Sowela Arts and Humanities building</p>RickHickmanPhotographer
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