CCC Named as a Top 200 U.S. Community College, Eligible for $1 Million Aspen Prize

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – The Aspen Institute has named Central Community College one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize. 

“I am very pleased that CCC continues to be recognized as one of the best community colleges for students in the nation and a tribute to our faculty, student support and administrative employees all working toward student success,” said CCC President Dr. Matt Gotschall.

The 200 colleges are 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.” 

The eligible colleges have been invited to apply and participate in a rigorous review process that will culminate in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. The colleges that apply for the Aspen Prize will be assessed based on (1) student outcomes data, ranging from student transfer and completion rates to employment and wages after graduation and (2) whether they have engaged in scaled practices that led to high 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 cannot only honor them with a monetary award, but drive attention to the most effective field 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, growing from 150. This year, in addition to publicly available federal data, over 600 colleges authorized the use of National Student Clearinghouse data on their institution’s degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment rates for full- and part-time students. 

The full list can be accessed here.