Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

The $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is the nation’s signature recognition for America’s community colleges—as one U.S. president called it, “basically the Oscars for great community colleges.” The Prize is rooted in deep research into colleges that achieve excellent and improving student outcomes, uncovering models of excellence that Aspen shares with the field and embeds in our professional development programs.

Introduction  |   Application Status  |   Winner Announced  |   Aspen Prize Cycle  |   2025 Aspen Prize Results  |   Winners and Finalists By Year  |   Selection Process  |   Related Resources

Introduction

The $1 million Aspen Prize – awarded every two years – recognizes excellent community colleges that achieve high and improving levels of student success in several areas, including teaching and learning; certificate and degree completion; transfer and bachelor’s attainment; workforce success; and college and program access. Prize winners and finalists are selected based on three rounds of intensive data analysis and qualitative research by independent experts and selection committees. The effective practices and models of excellence uncovered during the Prize process are shared with the field through open-access assessment tools and publications, conference presentations, and an extensive set of professional development programs, including Aspen presidential fellowships and Aspen’s state and system partnerships.  The Prize is supported by Ascendium, the Joyce Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Applications Closed

Candidates to apply for the 2027 Aspen Prize will be determined at a later date.

Winner Announced

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College has been named the winner of the 2025 Aspen Prize! In addition, we recognize two finalists with distinction—San Jacinto College and South Puget Sound Community College—and one Rising Star, Wallace State Community College-Hanceville. All 10 finalists showcase the transformative power of community colleges in driving student success and advancing social mobility across the country.

Access the 2025 Aspen Prize Publication See the Press Announcement

Aspen Prize Cycle

The 2025 Aspen Prize cycle began in October 2023 when the Aspen Institute invited 150 community colleges to apply, based on data showing strong and improving student outcomes in key areas such as retention, completion, and transfer. Read more about the data model and see the list of 150 eligible colleges below.

List of 150 Eligible Institutions Aspen Prize Metrics on the Top 150 Round 1 Eligibility Model

2025 Aspen Prize Results

Winner / $700,000 Award
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (WI)
Driven by a mission to ensure every student achieves success, Southwest Tech has not only boosted graduation rates but also redesigned programs to equip graduates with the skills needed for high-demand, good-paying jobs in the region, ensuring long-term career success.

Finalists with Distinction / $100,000 Awards
San Jacinto College (TX)
Driven by a commitment to industry collaboration, San Jacinto has redefined employer partnerships, aligning curriculum with workforce needs and securing sustained investments in state-of-the-art facilities and programs in maritime tech, healthcare, and petrochemical processing.

South Puget Sound Community College (WA)
Guided by a commitment to meeting local workforce needs, SPSCC expanded clinical placements to graduate more nurses and improved workforce programs by shortening duration and advocating for higher wages.

Rising Star / $100,000 Award
Wallace State Community College-Hanceville (AL)
Consistently graduating well-prepared students for in-demand jobs in welding, healthcare, manufacturing, and trucking, Wallace State has inspired employer investments, ensuring students from Appalachian communities gain the equipment and work-based experiences needed for success in a growing job market.

Winners and Finalists by Year

Selection Process

To award the Aspen Prize, the College Excellence Program engages in a rigorous two-year-long process, beginning with an assessment of student outcomes at over 1,000 U.S. community colleges and inviting 150 to apply for Prize consideration. From the applicant pool, a selection committee chooses 20 to 25 semifinalists and then 10 finalists, from which a prominent Prize Jury selects the winner. Throughout the process, Aspen and higher education experts analyze a range of quantitative data, evaluate detailed applications from colleges, and interview a wide range of stakeholders at colleges.

Related Resources

Funders

The Aspen Prize is made possible by generous support from:
Ascendium
The Joyce Foundation
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kresge Foundation

Contact Us

For more information, please contact: Rebecca Lavinson, Program Manager