International Students’ Pathways in U.S. Higher Education: The Role of Community Colleges

• In Event: Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: International Undergraduate Students in Higher Education

Abstract

International students’ pathways in the U.S. higher education were studied using qualitative data gathered from 36 student interviews at three community colleges and one university. Limited opportunities in their home-countries, cost considerations, and anticipated benefits from a U.S. education influenced international students to enroll at U.S. community colleges. Personal contacts and websites were the primary sources of information for students. Limited availability of information prior to enrollment and services offered upon enrollment created unmet expectations among the community college students. While current community college students expressed dissatisfaction with the institutional support available for transferring to a bachelor’s program, narratives of successful transferees show that institutional agents are an important source of social capital for international students.

Authors

• Viveka Kudaligama, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Gloria Shenoy

• Su Jung Kim