$1 million prize honors colleges achieving strong student results, both in college and after graduation

The Aspen Institute has named Mid-State Technical College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The 200 colleges were selected based on student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize.

“This recognition reflects the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff and students to ensure that every learner finds success and opportunity through education,” said Dr. Shelly Mondeik, president of Mid-State Technical College. “It’s an honor to be recognized among the top community colleges in the nation. Mid-State’s innovative academic programs, strong workforce partnerships, and student success initiatives continue to transform lives and strengthen the central Wisconsin region.”

Together, these 200 colleges represent the breadth and diversity of the community college sector. They are located in urban, rural and suburban areas across the country and serve anywhere from a few hundred students to tens of thousands. Some focus primarily on workforce programs, while others focus on transfer and bachelor’s attainment—or a combination of the two.

“The Aspen Prize rewards colleges that achieve the kind of outcomes that actually matter to students—completing college degree programs that, in turn, lead to lifelong success,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real.”

Community colleges educate nearly six million students nationwide. Yet student outcomes often fall short in both graduation rates and post-graduation success. The Aspen Prize process identifies and celebrates colleges that demonstrate stronger outcomes are possible, providing a roadmap of effective practices for others to follow.

The 200 eligible colleges have been invited to submit an application and participate in a rigorous review process culminating in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. Over the next 20 months, participating colleges will be assessed based on:
1.    Student outcomes data—including transfer, completion and post-graduation employment and wage results; and
2.    Scaled practices that have led to sustained and improving student outcomes.

“Among these 200 colleges are some really special places that deliver strong and improving outcomes for students across the board,” Wyner said. “Our job over the coming 20 months is to gather a lot more data and work with a deep bench of field experts to assess which of these 200 stand out so we can not only honor them with a monetary award, but also highlight the most effective practices that other colleges can replicate.”

This is the first time since the inception of the Aspen Prize that 200 colleges are eligible to apply—an increase from 150. In addition to publicly available federal data, over 600 colleges authorized the use of National Student Clearinghouse data to measure degree completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates for both full- and part-time students.

The full list of eligible institutions was announced by the Aspen Institute on Oct. 28 and can be accessed on the Aspen Prize homepage at https://as.pn/prize. 

Next steps in the process include:
•    November 13 / December 9, 2025: Application deadlines for the 2027 Prize
•    April 2026: Announcement of 25 semifinalists
•    June 2026: Announcement of 10 finalists
•    Fall 2026: Site visits and additional data collection
•    February 2027: Selection of the Aspen Prize winner
•    Spring 2027: Announcement and celebration in Washington, D.C.

The Aspen Prize is generously funded by Ascendium Education Philanthropy and The Joyce Foundation.
Previous winners include:
•    2025: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (WI)
•    2023: Amarillo College (TX) and Imperial Valley College (CA)
•    2021: San Antonio College (TX)
•    2019: Indian River State College (FL) and Miami Dade College (FL)
•    2017: Lake Area Technical Institute (SD)
•    2015: Santa Fe College (FL)
•    2013: Santa Barbara City College (CA) & Walla Walla Community College (WA)
•    2011: Valencia College (FL)