Anoka-Ramsey Community College named one of 150 Top U.S. Community Colleges eligible to compete for $1 million dollar Aspen Prize

October 11, 2017

Minnesota’s Anoka-Ramsey Community College was named today as one of 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges. Anoka-Ramsey was selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize.

In the last competition cycle in 2017, Anoka-Ramsey received the honor of being a Top 10 Finalist for the Aspen Prize, making it a Top 10 Community College in the U.S.

“We are honored to be selected by the Aspen Institute for the second time,” said Anoka-Ramsey President, Kent Hanson. “Anoka-Ramsey is a special place and I am extremely proud of the faculty, staff and students who continue to pursue an unwavering commitment to student success. We also have an active community support system from foundation donors to business partners who hire our graduates and legislators who truly care about offering quality, affordable higher education to our constituents. We look forward to participating in the 2019 Aspen Prize process.”

Awarded every two years since 2011, the Aspen Prize recognizes institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: learning; certificate and degree completion; employment and earnings; and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

Anoka-Ramsey will move forward to the next round of the competition for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence by submitting an application to be reviewed through a rigorous evaluation for a spot on the Top 10 Aspen Prize finalists list. Top 10 finalists will be named in May 2018. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quantitative data. A distinguished Prize Jury will select a grand prize winner, finalist(s) with distinction and rising star(s) in spring 2019.