The Aspen Institute Names State Tech as a Semifinalist for $1 Million Aspen Prize.

Published on April 30, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April, 29^th 2026                                                                               

The Aspen Institute Names State Tech as a Semifinalist for $1 Million Aspen Prize.

(Linn, Mo.) The Aspen Institute names State Technical College of Missouri as one of 25 semifinalists for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. State Tech is the only school in Missouri to receive this prestigious honor. Rooted in deep research and backed by $1 million in award money, the Aspen Prize is the nation’s signature recognition of colleges that deliver value for their students.

“When it comes to two-year college rankings ASPEN is the premier prize. To be a semifinalist recognizes we have one of the very best two-year colleges in the country in Linn, MO. 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,” said State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong.

The Aspen Prize is awarded every two years. State Tech has selected an “Aspen Project” each of the last three times it has been nominated. Past projects have included financial sustainability, rural student achievement, and this time student engagement. State Tech has been focused on creating a college experience typically found only on four-year university campuses. Osage View Event and Entertainment Complex, Lake State Tech, intramural sports, trap shooting and fishing clubs, are all recent additions to engage the student body. State Tech’s student engagement initiatives were able to increase retention by 10% and have resulted in a nation leading 84% graduation rate.

“The Aspen Institute is recognizing the transformational work that I am honored to witness each day. Our dedicated faculty and staff elevate the lives of our students through active engagement and top tier outcomes,” said Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Mrs. Angie Gaines.

State Tech was selected from nearly 1,000 institutions nationwide based on their outcome data and practices aimed at achieving high and improving levels of student success. Aspen defines student success as achievement in learning and completion of a college credential, and by post-college success in the form of a good job or a successful transfer to a bachelor’s degree program.

“We start every cycle of the Aspen Prize with a simple question: Which community colleges are best at not just helping students graduate, but ensuring that what they learn and the credentials they earn actually help them meet their goals and have a better life?” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “In over 15 years of awarding the Aspen Prize, we have learned a lot about how top colleges ensure that more students obtain credentials that lead directly to good jobs or successful attainment of a bachelor’s degree through transfer. We congratulate the semifinalists for their strong and improving student outcomes and for prioritizing improvements in student success both during and after college.”

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 for six out of the last seven years. These awards and nominations recognize State Tech’s value proposition: graduating students at a higher rate than any other college or university in the state while producing strong placement rates and salaries for graduates.

The Aspen Prize selection process began in October 2025, when Aspen identified 200 community colleges based on data demonstrating strong and improving student outcomes in key areas, including learning, completion, transfer leading to bachelor’s attainment, and workforce success, and invited them to apply. From there, 170 colleges submitted applications, which were reviewed by a selection committee of 15 higher education experts who evaluated each submission using both extensive data and narrative responses. Aspen then interviewed the leadership teams from colleges receiving top scores, and 25 semifinalists were selected.

In the coming weeks, the 15-member panel of experts will continue its review and narrow the field to 10 finalists, which will be announced in June. The Aspen Prize winner will be announced in April 2027.

Over the last decade, State Tech has doubled in size in both student body and facilities.  National rankings and an expanding campus footprint will help ensure State Tech remains the fastest-growing college or university in Missouri while continuing to meet Missouri’s workforce needs.

To read more about the selection process, visit as.pn/prize.

For additional information, please contact Brandon McElwain at 573-897-5351.

Visit www.statetechmo.edu.

One Technology Drive                                Contact: Brandon McElwain

Linn, Missouri 65051                                   Phone: 573.897.5351

Phone: 800-743-8324                                 brandon.mcelwain@statetechmo.edu

www.statetechmo.edu