For the Reporter
The Institute of International Education recently released its annual Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange showing Green River Community College as 10 in the nation among institutions awarding associate degrees.
The college welcomed 1,559 international students in the 2012-13 school year. This is the second year the college has held the spot.
“Students come for Green River’s affordability, small class sizes, university transfer and our commitment to individual care and academic advising,” said Green River President Eileen Ely. “In exchange, our students, faculty, staff and community learn side-by-side with their peers from around the world, often discovering ways to look at a situation with new eyes and a different perspective.”
Green River ranked fourth in Washington state in the number of enrolled international students behind the University of Washington, Washington State University and Seattle Central Community College. Washington ranked 11 in the country in the number of international students studying at the state’s colleges and universities, up 13.3 percent from the 2011-12 year. The IIE report also estimates the state sees $643 million from international student expenditures.
The IIE produced its report in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The report showed 55,000 more international students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions nationwide in 2012-13 than in the previous academic year.
