Aspen Institute Names NIACC a Top 150 U.S. Community College

The Aspen Institute has named North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) as one of the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. 

Aspen says institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success. Schools are also recognized for equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students as well as those from lower-income backgrounds.

NIACC President Steve Schulz said in a statement, “Being one of just two community colleges in Iowa invited to vie for the prestigious Aspen Prize is a testament to NIACC’s unwavering commitment to student success. Receiving this recognition for the sixth consecutive time is a testament to the exceptional dedication and expertise of our outstanding faculty and staff, who continually drive us toward excellence. I am proud of each one of our team members for contributing to this legacy of success!”

Also making the finalist list from Iowa is Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.

The Aspen Institute will select 25 semifinalists in April of 2024, pare that down to 10 finalists in June 2024, and select its next winner in early 2025.

From the Aspen Institute:

In this first round, eligibility for the Aspen Prize is based on publicly available data. Colleges must show strong, improving, and equitable student outcomes in first-to-second year retention, credentials awarded, and completion and transfer rates. Nationwide, about 15 percent of community colleges have been invited to apply (150 of just under 1,000 public two-year colleges assessed for Prize eligibility). The full list can be accessed on the Prize homepage.

The next steps in the process include:

·         April 2024: Announcement of 25 semifinalists, selected based on assessments of extensive data and strategy documents by the Prize selection panel, a group of 16 experts in community colleges, higher education, and workforce training, and interviews with institutional leadership teams

·         June 2024: Announcement of 10 finalists, selected by the Prize selection panel

·         Fall 2024:  Site visits to each of the ten finalists, during which the Aspen Institute and partners will collect additional information, including employment and earnings data and insights about promising practices

·         January 2025: Prize award decisions made by distinguished, independent Prize jury at full-day meeting 

·         Spring 2025:  Announcement of the Aspen Prize winner and celebration of the 10 finalists in Washington DC

For a full list of the top 150 eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit
https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize/.