(Lancaster, PA) —  Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology has been named as a college able to participate in a $1 million prize submission. The college is an Aspen Prize Top 200 Community College, as identified by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, making the institution eligible to compete for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The 200 colleges were selected based on strong and improving student outcomes data, including retention, completion and transfer rates. About 20 percent of community colleges nationwide were invited to apply for the prize.  

“This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to transforming lives through accessible, high-quality technical education,” said Pedro A. Rivera II, Ed.D., president of Thaddeus Stevens College. “Our mission has always been to create pathways to family thriving wages and meaningful careers for students who might not otherwise have access to higher education. With 97 percent of our graduates employed or continuing their education, earning a median first-year salary of $52,500, it demonstrates we’re not just meeting our mission, we’re delivering on the promise of what community colleges can achieve for students and communities.”

Over the next 20 months, colleges that apply for the shared Aspen Prize funds will be assessed based on student outcomes data and whether they have engaged in scaled practices that led to high and improving student success. The assessment will examine teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, employment and wages after graduation, and levels of college access.

The Aspen Prize winner will be announced in spring 2027. The full list of eligible colleges can be accessed on the Aspen Prize homepage at as.pn/prize.

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An acclaimed residential two-year college in the heart of Central Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is an accredited technical college dedicated to preparing students for high-demand careers with family-sustaining wages. Founded in 1905 with 15 students, Thaddeus Stevens College has grown to more than 1,400 students and 24 high-skill technical and trade degree programs. Through its mission, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology breaks down barriers that perpetuate educational inequities and creates access to a college degree. Committed to the legacy of its benefactor, Thaddeus Stevens, the college serves as an instrument of change in the lives of its students, graduates and employees who, in turn, impact change on businesses, industries and communities across Pennsylvania and beyond. stevenscollege.edu

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to strengthen higher education leadership and practice to improve student outcomes—with the ultimate goal of advancing economic mobility and developing talent for the good of each individual and society as a whole. For more information, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X.

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

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