Shawnee Community College mamed among nation’s top 200 for Aspen Prize Consideration
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KBSI) – The Aspen Institute has named Shawnee Community College among the top 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence — the nation’s highest recognition for achievement and performance among two-year colleges.
Colleges were selected based on student outcomes, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. This year marks the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize since its creation in 2010.
“This recognition affirms the incredible work happening every day at Shawnee Community College,” said Dr. Tim Taylor, president of Shawnee Community College. “Our students, faculty, and staff have embraced a shared vision for excellence, and it shows. From the Higher Learning Commission citing Shawnee as a national model for rural colleges, to our USA Today Top 250 ranking, to the ICCB’s Award for Excellence in Innovation, this has truly been a banner year for the College.”
Taylor said the honor underscores Shawnee’s belief that “even a small, rural college can achieve extraordinary results when vision, values, and data come together in service to student success.”
The 200 eligible institutions reflect the diversity of America’s community colleges, representing both rural and urban areas, and ranging in size from several hundred to tens of thousands of students.
“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.
Community colleges educate nearly six million students nationwide, yet graduation and post-graduation success rates remain a challenge across the sector. The Aspen Prize highlights colleges demonstrating what is possible when student outcomes and equity are prioritized.
Eligible institutions will now participate in a rigorous, 20-month review process that includes data analysis, applications, and site visits, culminating in the announcement of the 2027 Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027.
Key dates in the selection process include:
- Nov. 13–Dec. 9, 2025: Application deadlines
- April 2026: 25 semifinalists announced
- June 2026: 10 finalists announced
- Fall 2026: Site visits and data collection
- February 2027: Winner selected
Spring 2027: Winner and finalists honored in Washington, D.C.
The Aspen Prize is funded by Ascendium Education Philanthropy and the Joyce Foundation. Past winners include San Antonio College (TX), Amarillo College (TX), and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (WI).
Shawnee Community College, based in Ullin, Illinois, serves southern Illinois and surrounding communities with the mission of empowering learners and enriching communities through accessible, inclusive, and high-quality education.
For more information, visit Shawnee Community College –.
