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BSC named among the nation’s top 200 community colleges

Published: Nov 19 2025
BSC named among the nation’s top 200 community colleges - Photo
The Aspen Institute has recently named Bismarck State College (BSC) one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.

While BSC offers 13 bachelor’s degrees and is listed as a four-year college in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the fact that the majority of graduates currently earn associate degrees qualifies the college for this recognition.

The 200 colleges were selected based on student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment rates. Established in 2010, this marks the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize and the fourth consecutive cycle in which BSC has been chosen as an Aspen Prize Top U.S. Community College. This distinction places BSC among the most consistently high-performing institutions in the nation.

“This recognition is really about our students and the people who support them every day,” said BSC Interim President Dan Leingang. “It highlights that when we focus on student success through relevant programs, strong industry partnerships and caring faculty, we create real pathways to careers and meaningful lives. I’m proud that BSC continues to be recognized nationally for the difference we make in students’ futures.”

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 to tens of thousands of students. Some focus primarily on workforce programs. Others emphasize transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment, or a combination of the two.

“The Aspen Prize rewards colleges that achieve the kind of outcomes that actually matter to students like 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.”

Community colleges educate nearly six million students across the United States. Yet student outcomes often fall short in both the rate at which students graduate and the percentage who achieve success after graduation. The Aspen Prize process identifies and celebrates community colleges that demonstrate that achieving stronger outcomes is possible, providing a roadmap of effective practices and strategies for others to follow.

The 200 eligible colleges have been invited to submit an application and participate in a rigorous review process that will culminate in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. Over the next 20 months, the colleges that apply will be assessed based on:
  1. Student outcomes data ranging from student transfer and completion rates to employment and wages after graduation; and
  2. Evidence that the college has engaged in scaled practices leading to high and improving student outcomes.
“Among these 200 colleges are some really special places that deliver strong and improving outcomes for students across the board,” Wyner said. “Our job over the coming 20 months is to gather a lot more data and work with a deep bench of field experts to assess which of these 200 stand out so we can not only honor them with a monetary award, but drive attention to the most effective field practices that other colleges can replicate.”

The full list of eligible colleges can be found on the Aspen Prize homepage.

Next steps in the 2027 Aspen Prize process include:
  • Nov. 13 and Dec. 9, 2025: Application deadlines for the 2027 Prize
  • April 2026: Announcement of 25 semifinalists
  • June 2026: Announcement of 10 finalists
  • Fall 2026: Collection of additional data and site visits to finalists
  • February 2027: Selection of Aspen Prize winner
  • Spring 2027: Announcement and celebration in Washington, D.C.
To read more about the Aspen Prize selection process, visit as.pn/prize.