Madisonville Community College has been named by the Aspen Institute as one of eight Kentucky community colleges that are among the top 200 in the nation, eligible for the prestigious $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in 2027.
The award is the nation’s top honor for excellence among two-year colleges. The list of the top 200 is determined by student outcomes data such as retention, graduation, transfer, and bachelor’s degree attainment.
MCC officials shared on social media that they are proud to be among the Top 200 community colleges in the nation and eligible for the $1 million Aspen Prize. They called it an honor to be recognized for their ongoing commitment to student success.
In a written statement, Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) President Ryan Quarles said there are more than 1,100 community colleges in the United States, many of which perform at extremely high levels. He said they are delighted to celebrate this incredible marker of excellence that speaks to what they already know — KCTCS colleges are operating at and above the standard.
Officials report that KCTCS remains Kentucky’s leading provider of workforce training, with the activities of its colleges and students supporting one out of every 49 jobs in the state.
Other KCTCS colleges named to the top 200 list include Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Hazard Community and Technical College, Maysville Community and Technical College, Owensboro Community and Technical College, Somerset Community College, and West Kentucky Community and Technical College.
The $1 million Aspen Prize, awarded every two years, honors community colleges excelling in student outcomes like teaching, completion, transfer, and workforce success. Winners are chosen after rigorous reviews by independent experts, and effective practices are shared across the field. The Aspen Prize is supported by Ascendium and the Joyce Foundation.
