Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence
The Aspen Prize honors U.S. community colleges for outstanding student success, equity, and economic mobility through rigorous evaluation of institutional outcomes.
Funder: Aspen Institute
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2027 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: $1 million total prize; past winners have received $700,000, with $100,000 awarded to finalists with distinction and rising stars.
Summary: National recognition and prize for U.S. community colleges demonstrating outstanding student success, equity, and economic mobility outcomes.
Key Information: This is a biennial, highly competitive institutional award; not for individual research projects.
Description
The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is the nation’s premier recognition for high-performing community colleges in the United States. Administered by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, the Prize honors institutions that achieve exceptional and improving student outcomes in areas such as teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, and equitable access. The program’s goal is to spotlight effective models and share proven strategies that advance economic mobility and close equity gaps for students. Winners and finalists are selected through a rigorous, multi-stage process that includes data analysis, application review, site visits, and expert jury deliberation.
