A polyetherimide composition comprising a polyetherimide comprising a reacted combination of alkali metal salts and a bis(halophthalimide): (a) the combination of alkali metal salts comprising an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound having the formula M 1 O-Z 1 -OM 1 and an alkali metal salt of a monohydroxy aromatic compound having the formula M 2 O-Z 2 wherein M 1 and M 2 are each independently an alkali metal, and Z 1 and Z 2 are each independently an aromatic C 6-24 monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbyl moiety optionally substituted with 1 to 6 C 1-8 alkyl groups, 1 to 8 halogen atoms, or a combination thereof, and the alkali metal salt of the monohydroxy aromatic compound is included in an amount of more than 0 and less than 5 mole percent, based on the total moles of the alkali metal salts; with (b) the bis(halophthalimide) of the formula wherein R is selected from an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 27 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, a straight or branched chain alkylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, a cycloalkylene group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, an aromatic hydrocarbyl moiety having from 1 to 6 aromatic group, and a divalent group having the formula wherein Q 1 is selected from a direct bond, -O-, -S-, -C, -SO 2 -, -SO-, -C y H 2y - and a halogenated derivative thereof wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5, and -(C 6 H 10) z - wherein z is an integer from 1 to 4; and each X is indepently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, and iodo; wherein the polyetherimide has a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 43,000 Daltons and comprises structural units having de formula wherein n is greater than 1, and each R is the same or different, each Z 1 is the same or different, and are as defined above. (a) the combination of alkali metal salts comprising an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound having the formula M 1 O-Z 1 -OM 1 and an alkali metal salt of a monohydroxy aromatic compound having the formula M 2 O-Z 2 wherein M 1 and M 2 are each independently an alkali metal, and Z 1 and Z 2 are each independently an aromatic C 6-24 monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbyl moiety optionally substituted with 1 to 6 C 1-8 alkyl groups, 1 to 8 halogen atoms, or a combination thereof, and the alkali metal salt of the monohydroxy aromatic compound is included in an amount of more than 0 and less than 5 mole percent, based on the total moles of the alkali metal salts; with an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound having the formula M 1 O-Z 1 -OM 1 and an alkali metal salt of a monohydroxy aromatic compound having the formula M 2 O-Z 2 wherein M 1 and M 2 are each independently an alkali metal, and Z 1 and Z 2 are each independently an aromatic C 6-24 monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbyl moiety optionally substituted with 1 to 6 C 1-8 alkyl groups, 1 to 8 halogen atoms, or a combination thereof, and the alkali metal salt of the monohydroxy aromatic compound is included in an amount of more than 0 and less than 5 mole percent, based on the total moles of the alkali metal salts; with M 1 and M 2 are each independently an alkali metal, and Z 1 and Z 2 are each independently an aromatic C 6-24 monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbyl moiety optionally substituted with 1 to 6 C 1-8 alkyl groups, 1 to 8 halogen atoms, or a combination thereof, and the alkali metal salt of the monohydroxy aromatic compound is included in an amount of more than 0 and less than 5 mole percent, based on the total moles of the alkali metal salts; with (b) the bis(halophthalimide) of the formula wherein R is selected from an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 27 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, a straight or branched chain alkylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, a cycloalkylene group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, an aromatic hydrocarbyl moiety having from 1 to 6 aromatic group, and a divalent group having the formula wherein Q 1 is selected from a direct bond, -O-, -S-, -C, -SO 2 -, -SO-, -C y H 2y - and a halogenated derivative thereof wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5, and -(C 6 H 10) z - wherein z is an integer from 1 to 4; and each X is indepently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, and iodo; wherein the polyetherimide has a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 43,000 Daltons and comprises structural units having de formula wherein n is greater than 1, and each R is the same or different, each Z 1 is the same or different, and are as defined above. R is selected from an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 27 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, a straight or branched chain alkylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, a cycloalkylene group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, an aromatic hydrocarbyl moiety having from 1 to 6 aromatic group, and a divalent group having the formula wherein Q 1 is selected from a direct bond, -O-, -S-, -C, -SO 2 -, -SO-, -C y H 2y - and a halogenated derivative thereof wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5, and -(C 6 H 10) z - wherein z is an integer from 1 to 4; and