LINN — For the ninth straight year, State Tech has been named to the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, more than any other two-year college in Missouri. State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong said the college is honored to be once again considered one of the nation’s top 200 community colleges. The school is one of just 16 colleges that have achieved this honor in all nine cycles dating back to 2011.

“We have received numerous national accolades, but the Aspen Institute is always a very special recognition,” said Dr. Strong. “We have one of the very best two-year colleges in the country in Linn. We graduate students and start rewarding careers, and no one does it better than State Tech. Employers know this. It means a lot when national ranking agencies such as Aspen recognize this.  As we say at State Tech, From the Classroom to your Career, We are the Employers’ Choice.”

This is the first time since the inception of the Aspen Prize that 200 colleges are eligible to apply, growing from 150. 

As one of 200 community colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. Based on strong and improving student outcomes — including in learning, completion rates, employment rates, and earnings, and equity —15% of community colleges nationwide have been invited to apply for the Aspen Prize.

With a singular focus on student success, the Aspen Prize recognizes institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: learning; certificate and degree completion; employment and earnings; and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

“Since the last Aspen cycle, we improved our already outstanding graduation rate and focused on the student experience,” said Dr. Strong. “We believe an engaged student body is key to creating a vibrant college campus, and because of student engagement, we can improve the likelihood of success. We look forward to sharing our successes with the Aspen Prize review team.”

State Tech was selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide using publicly available data on student outcomes. “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.”

The Aspen recognition is in addition to a long list of national accolades State Tech has received, including being ranked the #1 college in the country by WalletHub. Dr. Strong noted these rankings recognize State Tech’s value proposition of graduating students at a higher rate than any other college or university in the state and the placement and salaries State Tech graduates receive. 

Visit statetechmo.edu for program information.