M State Among Top 200 Community Colleges in the U.S. for 9th Consecutive Time

Photo from an M State commencement ceremony in spring 2025. (M State)

Fergus Falls, MN – M State has been named one of 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. The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program selects colleges based on student outcome data, including retention, completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment rates.

This marks the ninth cycle of the biennial Aspen Prize, which began in 2010. M State is one of only two colleges in Minnesota to be recognized in all nine awards cycles.

“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our leadership, faculty and staff to student success,” says M State President Carrie Brimhall. “Being named among the top community colleges in the nation – every cycle since this prize began – is a reflection of our mission to empower students and strengthen communities through high-quality, affordable education.”

This year, for the first time since the prize’s inception, 200 colleges were eligible to apply, up from 150 in previous years. These institutions represent urban, rural and suburban areas across the country and serve anywhere from a few hundred students to tens of thousands. Some focus primarily on workforce programs while others focus on degree attainment and university transfer – or, like M State, a combination of all three.

“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,” says 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.”

As an eligible college, M State has been invited to participate in a rigorous review process that will culminate in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. The top 10 finalists will be announced in June 2026.

Story courtesy of M State.