Southern Illinois is well represented on the list of community colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, which recognizes high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.
The 200 institutions on the list include John A. Logan, Rend Lake, Shawnee and the group of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.
The colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates.
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.
No school from Illinois has won the overall competition.
