Community Colleges Attractive to International Students

Madison, Wis.—February 1, 2008— The biggest growth in international student enrollment is occurring at community colleges, says Marguerite J. Dennis, vice president of enrollment and international programs at Suffolk University in Boston.

During her recent online seminar sponsored by Recruitment & Retention in Higher Education, Dennis noted that over the past four years, enrollment of international students at two-year schools has increased by 60 percent, much greater than the increase at four-year schools. Dennis also addressed:
• how community colleges are acting more like four-year institutions
• reverse transfers (four-year students who later enroll in community colleges)
• challenges community colleges will face in the future

“I think many international students realize they can have an American educational experience at a much cheaper cost [at community colleges] and after two years they can transfer,” she said.

Other interesting facts shared during the seminar:
• About two out of five undergraduate international students in the U.S. study at community colleges.
• Japan and Korea are the two leading sources of international students enrolled in U.S. community colleges.
• It is easier to get a visa to study English at a community college than at private English language institutes.
• The most popular majors of international students enrolled in community colleges are business, health professions, communication, journalism, and general studies.

The seminar also examined:
• the strengths and weaknesses of other nations’ international education efforts
• changes in American students’ study abroad preferences
• the impact online education will have on the market

If you missed the live event, you can order the program in CD or transcript format, both of which include the presenters' handouts.

This seminar is the third in a three-part series on trends in higher education. During these seminars, Ms. Dennis addresses the current and upcoming developments in the United States, internationally and in community colleges.

Magna Publications is a leading publisher of newsletters and other information products in the higher education segment. Magna also manages onsite and online conferences on topics of interest to higher education.

For more information please contact David Burns, Publisher, Magna Publications, Inc., at 608-227-8109, or dburns@magnapubs.com.