OCC Breaks Record for Foreign Students
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Orange Coast College has enrolled a record 939 international students for the fall semester.
When the international student program began 14 years ago, 38 students were enrolled. In 1997, the number was 816.
Orange Coast is in the top dozen of the nation’s 1,200 community colleges in attracting students from other countries.
“Our goal, over the next five years, is to move into the top five schools nationally,” said Saeeda Wali Mohammed, director of the International Center. “We expect to enroll about 1,000 international students by the year 2000.”
The program is managed by the International Center, which provides an array of services.
About 80% of the students want to transfer to four-year universities after completing their studies at OCC.
International students pay $142 a unit, averaging about $3,500 a year; California residents pay $12 per unit.
Over the next five years, the campus expects international students to generate $13 million in tuition.
About 70% of the international students are from Asia.
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