The Aspen Institute Names State Tech to its “Top 200 U.S. Community Colleges” list for their 2027 award.

Published on October 30, 2025

For the 9^th time in a row State Tech is proud to announce we have been named to The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. State Tech has been named to this list more times than any other two-year college in Missouri. State Tech is honored to once again be considered one of the nation’s top 200 community colleges! State Tech is one of only 16 colleges that have achieved this honor in all nine cycles dating back to 2011!

According to Aspen, The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize.

“We have received numerous national accolades, but the Aspen Institute is always a very special recognition. 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 following statement is from The Aspen Institute’s press release:

“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.”

State Tech is now 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 colleges. The Aspen Prize will be assessed based on (1) student outcomes data, ranging from student transfer and completion rates to employment and wages after graduation and (2) whether they have engaged in scaled practices that led to high and improving student outcomes.

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

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. 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.

This is the first time since the inception of the Aspen Prize that 200 colleges are eligible to apply, growing from 150.  The full list of eligible schools can be accessed on the Aspen Prize homepage.

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