The Illinois Community College Board recently announced that 21 community colleges were named eligible to compete for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The $1 million award recognizes outstanding student outcomes, including program completion, transfer, and bachelor’s degree attainment, and retention.

The colleges were named among the top 200 two-year institutions nationally. The Aspen Prize winner will be named in the spring of 2027.

“Today’s announcement reflects the extraordinary work performed by Illinois community colleges in building accessible, high-quality pathways for students to complete credentials, transfer to four-year institutions, and achieve meaningful careers,” Illinois Community College Board executive director Brian Durham said in a news release.

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