Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) was recently named as one of 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The Aspen Prize is the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.
The $1 million Aspen Prize – awarded every two years – recognizes excellent community colleges that achieve high and improving levels of student success in several areas including: teaching and learning; certificate and degree completion; transfer and bachelor’s attainment; workforce success; and college and program access. Aspen Prize winners and finalists are selected based on three rounds of intensive data analysis and qualitative research by independent experts and selection committees.
“This honor recognizes the dedication of our faculty, staff, board of trustees, and community partners who make EICC a place where students thrive. The Aspen process is one of the most respected in higher education, highlighting colleges that excel in student learning, completion, and community impact,” said EICC Chancellor Bryan Renfro.
“We do this work for one reason: our students. Every decision, every program, every partnership is about helping them succeed,” he added. “Being recognized among the nation’s top community colleges reinforces that what we do here truly matters.”
The 200 colleges were selected based on student outcomes data, including retention, completion, and transfer rates. Visit here to see the full list of the 200 colleges.
Together, the institutions represent the breadth of the community college sector. They are located in urban, rural, and suburban areas 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.
‘Life-changing education’
“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,” Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, said an EICC news release announcing the recognition.
“At a time when many Americans are struggling to pay their bills, Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real,” Mr. Wyner said.
To compete for the $1 million prize, EICC and other colleges will participate in a rigorous review process that culminates in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. Over the next 20 months, the colleges that apply will be rigorously assessed based on student outcome data and any engagement that led to high and improving student outcomes.
Community colleges educate about 40% of all undergraduates. Yet, national student outcomes fall short in the rate at which students graduate and afterward, the percentage that achieve success. Aspen defines success as the ability to secure a good-paying job after earning a community college credential or after successfully transferring and earning a bachelor’s degree.
Multiple data sources are used to identify achievement in five key areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, employment and wages after graduation, and levels of college access. The Aspen Institute then researches the practices of these top colleges in order to share successful strategies with the field.
Assessment process
“Among these 200 colleges are some really special places that deliver strong and improving outcomes for students across the board,” Mr. Wyner said. “Our job over the coming 20 months is to work with a deep bench of field experts to assess which of these 200 stand out so we can not only honor them with a monetary award but drive attention to the most effective field practices that other colleges can replicate.”
Eligibility for the Aspen Prize is based on publicly available data. Colleges must show strong and improving student outcomes in first-to-second year retention, credentials awarded, and completion and transfer rates.
Here is a timeline of next steps:
- Tuesday, Dec. 9: Application deadlines for the 2027 Aspen Prize.
- April 2026: A group of 11 experts in community colleges, higher education, and workforce will announce their selection of 25 semi-finalists.
- June 2026: The 10 finalists will be announced.
- Fall 2026: Additional data will be submitted by the 10 finalists, who will also host multi-day site visits for the judges.
- February 2027: An independent jury will select The Aspen Prize winner.
- Spring 2027: The winner will be announced.
The Aspen Prize is funded by Ascendium Education Philanthropy and the Joyce Foundation.
