A polyetherimide composition includes a polyetherimide and two or more of a residual metal content, a sulfate anion, a phosphate anion, a nitrite anion, a nitrate anion, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, a residual solvent content, a phosphorus-containing stabilizer, and alkali metal halide, alkaline earth metal halide, alkali metal carbonate, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, wherein each of the aforementioned components, when present, is included in the composition in a particular amount. The resulting polyetherimide composition exhibits two or more useful properties. The polyetherimide composition can optionally further be combined with a polymer different from the polyetherimide to provide a thermoplastic composition. Methods of making the polyetherimide composition and articles including the polyetherimide composition are also described.