HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Aspen Institute on Wednesday, April 29, named Wallace State Community College one of 25 semifinalists for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Rooted in deep research and backed by $1 million in award money, the Aspen Prize is the nation’s signature recognition of community colleges that deliver value for their students.
“We are excited to once again be selected as a semifinalist for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence,” said Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics. “Our work remains focused on student success — helping students earn a living wage, secure meaningful employment and progress along clear pathways toward a bachelor’s degree and long-term opportunity.”
Wallace State was previously recognized by the Aspen Institute when it was named a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The 25 semifinalists — which come from 20 states — were selected from nearly 1,000 institutions nationwide based on their outcomes data and collegewide practices aligned to 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 successful transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment.
“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 Prize is awarded every two years and recognizes excellence across a wide range of institutions, from Florida’s large, multicampus Valencia College in 2011 to rural Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in 2025. With each cycle, Aspen deepens its understanding of what value looks like. The top colleges — no matter their size or location — ensure students complete programs with strong regional labor market value and clear transfer pathways that lead to bachelor’s degrees.
