Total CCs: 1,132

Total Enrollment:Fall 2014: 6.9 mil

International Students: 87,000 *IIE Open Doors Report

Overview of Community Colleges in the USA

• Created in the 1900s to provide open access to higher education: filling the gap between high school and university education for those who need it.

• 2 year public, state funded institution• Technical programs and Associate Degrees• Liberal Arts curriculum with a transfer focus• Transferable credits to 4-year institutions

The Community College: An American Invention

• Providing a pathway for students who are not yet ready for university.

• Academic English Preparation• Cultural and Educational System Adjustments• Student Centered• Focus on teaching• Small Classes• Additional year for OPT (opportunity to work)

Advantages of Community Colleges For Int’l Students

• WA has a unique high school completion program• Has been hosting international students for many

years• Experience in serving international student needs• Home of world-class companies such as Starbucks,

Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon.com, Costco, and more…

• Proximity to Asia (direct flights from Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul, and other cities)

• Great Quality of life: clean, affordable, diverse and safe

Washington State

Community College ($9,000)

4 Year College (Public:

$25,000)

4 Year College (Private: $45,000)

Tuition Comparison for 1 Academic Year

A Matter of Money