The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to strengthen higher education leadership and practice to improve student outcomes—with the ultimate goal of advancing economic mobility and developing talent for the good of all people and society as a whole.
The new dual reports—one for community colleges and the other for four-year institutions—are the first to include transfer data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and income.
System to Improve Teaching and Learning Across Community Colleges
Community College Case Study
Discover how Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) achieved scaled improvements in faculty teaching through college-wide goal setting and evaluations.
The Aspen Institute has named the 10 finalists for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The $1 million award is the nation's signature recognition of strong performance among community colleges.
Rising Presidents Fellowship alumni have become presidents; alumni are substantially more diverse by gender and race than other community college presidents.
100
Sitting community college presidents have engaged in Aspen’s Presidents Fellowship program to improve student outcomes so that more succeed after graduation.
$500+ Million
Amount donated by a prominent philanthropist to colleges that were finalists for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
139
Number of four-year colleges and universities that are members of the American Talent Initiative (ATI), each setting concrete goals for enrolling more lower-income students.
18,100
Additional students from lower-income backgrounds enrolled in American Talent Initiative (ATI) member institutions since ATI’s inception in 2016.
200
University and college presidents and teams engaged in intensive professional development programs designed to develop concrete plans to improve transfer outcomes.
2,000+
Community college leaders who have taken part in Aspen professional development programs aimed at improving student success outcomes during and after college.
