LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - A significant hurdle for some who are thinking about college is the cost. But, before you give up, you should consider that most colleges offer scholarships and financial aid options. We spoke with Allison Dering this morning about what options SOWELA offers based on need, merit, and situation.

SOWELA accepts both TOPS and TOPS Tech . Most know how TOPS works, but TOPS Tech criteria are different. Students with a minimum ACT score of 17 or the Silver level score on ACT WorkKeys, along with a 2.5 GPA in high school, can receive TOPS Tech at SOWELA. For example, students with TOPS Tech receive $3,200 annually to assist with college expenses. This covers the majority of SOWELA’s annual tuition of $4,265.

Federal Aid is another option with the Pell grant. This

See Full Page