The Aspen Institute Names Mineral Area College as a Top 200 U.S. Community College--Eligible for the 2027 Aspen Prize
The Aspen Institute named Mineral Area College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.
The Top 200 colleges were selected based on publicly available student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize, which awards $1 million in shared prize funds to winning colleges.
"MAC’s faculty and staff are deeply committed to providing our communities with excellent, affordable opportunities for learning, personal growth, and career development," said MAC President Dr. Joe Gilgour. "We're thrilled to receive this national recognition as a top college, which validates our core mission and proves that the work we do every day is making a difference."
According to the Aspen Institute, the Top 200 colleges represent the breadth and diversity of the community college sector. They are located in urban, rural, and suburban areas across the country and serve anywhere from a few hundred students to tens of thousands. Some of these colleges 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.”
Over the next 20 months, a rigorous review process will further evaluate student outcomes and institutional practices of eligible colleges, culminating in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027.
The full Top 200 list and additional information can be accessed on the Aspen Prize homepage.
