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Cascadia College reports record enrollment, warns international student losses will cut revenue
Summary
Cascadia College leaders told the Bothell City Council that overall enrollment is at a record high, but a roughly 33% drop in international students has created a multimillion‑dollar budget risk; the college highlighted student supports, equity gains and a legislative request for a new student services building.
Cascadia College’s State of the College presentation to the Bothell City Council on Oct. 14 reported record overall enrollment but a steep decline in international students that officials said threatens the college’s budget.
College presenter Dr. Eric Murray told council members enrollment is up “about 12%” this year, which he said gives Cascadia its largest student body in the institution’s history. Murray also said international enrollment has fallen by about 33%, roughly 100 students, and that loss “is a huge financial hit to the college.”
The enrollment surge was paired with other, institution-level improvements. Murray said Cascadia ranks first in the state on a set of eight “pathways” metrics that measure retention, transfer and progress in math; he said retention runs about 90% compared with the state average in the 80s and a national average near 50. Murray said Cascadia is also the top community‑college transfer feeder to the University of Washington.
Murray described several student supports the college has expanded: emergency grants ("We've given over $50,000 away to students in need"), a campus food pantry called the Kodiak Cave (service has tripled), laptop checkout and mentoring through the Cascadia Scholars program. He said students value “non‑artificial intelligence in person touch” and the campus’s ability to let students register two quarters in advance.
Murray told council members the college is working on a student services building and that legislative staff who visited earlier in the day were receptive; he said Cascadia is “number 1 on the list for this coming supplemental budget” but did not claim final funding. On federal policy, Murray said changes in visa processing and other federal shifts have reduced international students and created cash‑flow uncertainty when grants moved between federal agencies.
Council members pressed for operational details: one asked how the Kodiak Cave accepts donations and Murray said the college can accept nonperishables but that staff will provide specific donation guidelines. Another asked about services for students with disabilities; Murray said demand has more than doubled during his 15 years at the college and that Cascadia now has a recognized director for disability services.
Why this matters: Cascadia’s enrollment and transfer performance affect local students and the regional workforce pipeline; but the loss of international tuition and uncertainty over federal grant routing are immediate budget pressures that the college said it is studying as it pursues state legislative funding for a new building.
Murray closed by thanking council members for collaboration and said he would follow up on questions about donations and disability services.
