Headed for the Heartland: Decision Making Process of Community College Bound International Students

Abstract

Despite record growth in international student enrollment at U.S. community colleges, little is known regarding how the international students learn about—and ultimately decide to attend—community colleges. This research study identifies the decision making factors and explores the sources of information utilized by international students who attend community colleges. Using a qualitative case study design, 13 international students from four different Illinois community colleges were interviewed. These colleges are charter members of the Study Illinois consortium, an international student recruiting initiative involving the U.S. Department of Commerce and Illinois higher education institutions. A multitheoretical framework encompassing world culture theory, push-pull theory, and cognitive decision making theory served as a lens for analysis of the interview data. The findings revealed that community college international students experience a distinctive decision-making process when selecting their destination institution. Excerpts from the international student interviews illustrate that students were so overwhelmed with information that they relied on trusted personal contacts or professional educational agents to assist them at critical points in the decision process. The research study resulted in a decision-making model that illuminates ways in which practitioners can strategize international student recruitment and where their efforts would be best served.