SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Aspen Institute has named Cuesta College one of 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. The Aspen Institute launched the prize in 2010, and this marks its ninth cycle.
“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the top community colleges in the nation,” said Cuesta College Superintendent / President Dr. Jill Stearns. “This distinction reflects our commitment to academic excellence, equitable student outcomes, and continuous improvement. At Cuesta College, we’re focused on creating opportunities that help every student succeed and build a brighter future for themselves and our community.”
Cuesta College serves more than 10,000 students in San Luis Obispo County with high-quality educational opportunities. It ranks among 14 community colleges in California to earn this distinction. Together, the 200 colleges showcase 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.”
Community colleges educate nearly six million students. Yet community college student outcomes fall short in both the rate at which students graduate and the percentage of students who achieve success after graduation. 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 has invited 200 eligible colleges to apply and participate in a rigorous review process that will culminate in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. Over the next 20 months, reviewers will assess the applicants based on (1) student outcomes data, ranging from student transfer and completion rates to employment and wages after graduation and (2) whether the colleges have implemented scaled practices that drive high and improving student outcomes.
“Among these 200 colleges are some really special places that deliver strong and improving outcomes for students across the board,” Wyner said. “Our job over the coming 20 months is to gather a lot more data and 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.”
For the first time since the Aspen Prize’s inception, 200 colleges are eligible to apply, an increase from 150. This year, in addition to publicly available federal data, over 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.
The full list can be accessed on the Aspen Prize homepage.
The next steps in the process include:
- November 13/December 9, 2025: Application deadlines for the 2027 Prize
- April 2026: Announcement of 25 semifinalists, selected based on assessments of extensive data and the application by a group of 11 experts in community colleges, higher education, and workforce
- June 2026: Announcement of 10 finalists, selected by the same group of experts
- Fall 2026: Collection of additional data from the 10 finalists, including employment and earnings data for graduates from 2020 and 2025, as well as qualitative assessments of practices by field experts during multi-day site visits to each of the 10 finalists
- February 2027: The Aspen Prize winner selected by a distinguished, independent jury
- Spring 2027: Announcement of the Aspen Prize winner and celebration of the 10 finalists at an event in Washington, D.C.
To read more about the selection process, visit as.pn/prize.