The Aspen Institute Names Tallahassee State College as a Semifinalist for $1 Million Aspen Prize

April 29, 2026 Aspen Institute has named Tallahassee State College (TSC) one of 25 semifinalists for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of community colleges that deliver strong student outcomes. The prize is awarded biennially and includes $1 million in funding. “To be named one of 25 semifinalists out of almost 1,000 colleges nationwide for the Aspen Prize is an honor that speaks to the impact of our work and the momentum we are building at Tallahassee State College,” said Dr. Jim Murdaugh, president of TSC. “We are proud to create clear pathways for our students, whether to a career or a bachelor’s degree, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to expanding opportunity and delivering results that change lives.” Selected from nearly 1,000 colleges nationwide, the 25 semifinalists represent institutions demonstrating strong and improving results in student learning, completion, transfer to bachelor’s programs, and workforce success. Aspen defines student success as students earning meaningful credentials that lead to good jobs or successful transfer and degree attainment. “We start every cycle of the Aspen Prize with a simple question: Which community colleges are best at ensuring students graduate with credentials that improve their lives?” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “We congratulate this year’s semifinalists for delivering strong outcomes and continuously improving student success.” The Aspen Prize has recognized a diverse range of colleges from large, multi-campus institutions to small rural colleges, highlighting those that align programs with workforce needs and create clear pathways to bachelor’s degrees. The selection process began in October 2025, when Aspen identified 200 high-performing colleges based on national data. Of those, 170 applied and were evaluated by a panel of higher education experts using both data and institutional practices. Following interviews with top-performing colleges, 25 semifinalists were chosen. Ten finalists will be announced in June 2026. Site visits and further data analysis will follow, with the Aspen Prize winner named in April 2027. The full list of semifinalists is available at as.pn/prize. Additional details about the selection process and benchmarking tools can also be found online.