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20 NC community colleges eligible for 2027 Aspen Prize

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The Aspen Institute named 200 community colleges nationwide on Tuesday that are eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, which is awarded every two years, according to a press release.

The website says one U.S. president described the prize as “basically the Oscars for great community colleges.” 

Twenty of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges made the list:

  1. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
  2. Blue Ridge Community College
  3. Brunswick Community College
  4. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
  5. Davidson-Davie Community College
  6. Forsyth Technical Community College
  7. Gaston College
  8. Halifax Community College
  9. Haywood Community College
  10. Isothermal Community College
  11. Lenoir Community College
  12. Martin Community College
  13. Mitchell Community College
  14. South Piedmont Community College
  15. Southeastern Community College
  16. Stanly Community College
  17. Wake Technical Community College
  18. Wayne Community College
  19. Western Piedmont Community College
  20. Wilkes Community College

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Here is the full list of all 200 community colleges. A North Carolina community college has not yet won the prize, which was first awarded in 2011.

The community colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates, according to the press release.

The Aspen Prize process identifies and celebrates community colleges that demonstrate that achieving stronger outcomes is possible, providing a roadmap of effective practices and strategies for other colleges to follow. 

— The Aspen Institute

“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.

The number of eligible community colleges increased to 200 this year for the first time because — in addition to publicly available federal data — more than 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. Previously, 150 eligible colleges were invited to apply.

“These colleges represent the amazing potential of America’s community colleges as engines of prosperity and social mobility,” says the website.

What happens next?

The 200 eligible community colleges have been invited to submit an application and participate in a review process that will ultimately lead to the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027 in Washington, D.C.

After the community colleges submit their applications, the next step will be the announcement of 25 semifinalists in April 2026, selected based on assessments of extensive data and the application by a group of 11 experts in community colleges, higher education, and workforce.

Stay tuned.