Green River College

Auburn, Washington, United States · Est. 1963 · Community College

Washington's premier community college with aviation excellence and strong international enrollment.

  • Founded 1963 as a public community college in Auburn, Washington
  • Enrollment: 8,477 full-time, 11,237 part-time (Fall 2012); over 13,000 total students
  • Signature Aviation Technology program with air traffic control lab and flight simulator
  • Top 10 US community college for international enrollment (1,700+ international students from 64 countries as of Fall 2014)
  • Offers associate degrees, certificates, and 9 bachelor's degrees in applied sciences
  • Satellite campuses in Kent and Enumclaw, Washington; main campus on Lea Hill

Academics

Green River College offers certificate, associate, and applied baccalaureate degree programs, with more than 40 professional and technical programs. The college is known for its signature Aviation Technology program, which trains students for careers including Air Traffic Controller and Professional Pilot using state-of-the-art facilities. Top transfer programs include business, engineering, and IT, with additional offerings in sciences, humanities, and social sciences. In 2014, the college began offering Bachelor of Applied Science degrees; by 2017–2018, 118 (7%) of 1,586 degrees awarded were bachelor's degrees.

Campus & Student Life

The main campus is located on Lea Hill in Auburn, with additional satellite campuses in downtown Auburn, Enumclaw, and Kent. Green River competes in the Western Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) with athletic teams nicknamed the Gators. The college operates student radio stations KGRG-FM and KGRG (AM), and publishes The Current student newspaper since 1965. Campus facilities include Holman Library, Recreation & Athletics Center, Helen S. Smith Gallery, and the Mel Lindbloom Student Union Building.

International Programs

Green River is recognized as one of the top 10 US community colleges for international enrollment, hosting over 1,700 international students from 64 countries as of Fall 2014. The college offers comprehensive international student services including admissions support, housing, airport pickup, orientation, advising, and scholarships. International pathways include university transfer, intensive English, Bachelor of Applied Science, and gap year programs.

Notable Recognition

In April 2022, President Joe Biden visited Green River College to speak about his administration's vision for lowering costs for American families. The event was held in the Mel Lindbloom Student Union Building and attended by various local and national leaders. The college is ranked in the top 150 US community colleges.

Founded
1963
Type
Community College
Courses
14
Total intake
Not yet verified
Websitehttp://www.greenriver.edu
HousingAvailable
Some details are still being verified.

Quick stats

Courses offered
14
Avg career outcomes
$50.7K
Total intake
Not yet verified
Housing
Yes
Data last verified June 2026 · compiled from official sources