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The colleges selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds. Only 15 percent of U.S. colleges are eligible to apply.

Together, these 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. 

 “Our legacy is built on a culture of excellence,” said Michael Seymour, President of Alexandria Technical & Community College. “ATCC’s dedication to student success and to creating opportunities for all students is at the center of the work we do every day. We are proud to once again be named by Aspen in the top 15 percent of community colleges nationwide.”

The Aspen Prize spotlights exemplary community colleges in order to drive attention to colleges achieving post-graduate success for all students. Eligible colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector. Located in urban, rural, and suburban areas across 31 states, these colleges serve as few as 169 students and as many as 49,619. ATCC served over 4,700 students in the 2024/2025 academic year.

ATCC has worked diligently to grow in several student sectors, including the metro area, historically underrepresented populations, adult learners, and student athletes. Alexandria College’s strong brand has led to enrollment growth five years in a row. Of ATCC’s top ten feeder schools, historically all have been within a 50-mile radius. Two of the college’s top ten high schools are now located more than 100 miles away, Forest Lake and Monticello. The college had students from all 87 Minnesota Counties in 2023 and 2024 with all but one county represented in 2025. 

Students choose Alexandria College for a variety of reasons. Abundant student housing, a broad array of academic programs, and opportunities for engagement are among the top reasons. Students come from as far away as Alaska, Texas, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

ATCC’s student outcomes remain among the highest in Minnesota, and nationwide.

• In 2022 the Council of Higher Education included Alexandria College on a list of 20 institutions with the highest graduation rates in the United States.
• Our graduation rate is 66%, more than double the national midpoint for two-year schools according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
• Wallethub and Niche has named ATCC Minnesota’s Best College for multiple years in a row, for affordability, education quality, and student success.
• ATCC has maintained an average related job placement rate of 99%, highest in the Minnesota State System, meaning most graduates work in roles directly related to their area of study.
• ATCC works closely with the United State Naval Community College to deliver engineering and health programs to over 600 active service members.

 “The Aspen Prize is rooted first and foremost in an assessment of whether colleges are walking the walk,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “As community colleges face enrollment variations, enroll students with pandemic-related learning loss, and graduate students into a rapidly changing labor market, it is easy to lose track of what matters most.” 

Other Minnesota institutions on the list include Anoka Technical College Central Lakes College-Brainerd Minnesota State Community and Technical College Saint Paul College. A full list of eligible institutions is available on the Aspen Prize homepage.