M State Selected for Aspen Prize Review, Boost for Fergus Falls

Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls has been named among 200 institutions eligible to compete for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the Aspen Institute announced. The prize, valued at $1 million and considered the nation s premier recognition for two year colleges, evaluates institutions on measurable student outcomes including retention, completion, transfer and bachelor s attainment rates.

The announcement places M State in a national field expanded this year from 150 eligible institutions to 200, as the Aspen Prize enters its ninth biennial cycle. The prize process will include a multi stage review that concludes with the naming of a winner in spring 2027, with the top ten finalists to be announced in June 2026. M State is one of only two colleges in Minnesota to be recognized in all nine award cycles since the prize began in 2010, signaling persistent strength in student success metrics over a 15 year span.

"This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our leadership, faculty and staff to student success," says M State President Carrie Brimhall. "Being named among the top community colleges in the nation every cycle since this prize began is a reflection of our mission to empower students and strengthen communities through high quality, affordable education." The college s repeated inclusion suggests steady performance on the outcome measures the Aspen Institute prioritizes.

For Otter Tail County, the designation is more than an honor. Community colleges serve as a primary pipeline for local talent, supplying technical skill sets to regional employers and preparing students for transfer to four year institutions. Elevated recognition can enhance M State s appeal to prospective students from rural and suburban areas, potentially boosting enrollment and increasing local retention of younger residents who might otherwise leave for larger metropolitan centers.

Economic implications include potential improvements in workforce readiness for sectors that dominate the regional economy. While the Aspen Prize winner receives $1 million, even being an eligible institution can increase visibility with funders, partner employers and state policymakers who direct workforce development resources. Increased attention can influence future program funding and partnerships that align curriculum with labor market demand in health care, advanced manufacturing and agribusiness.

The Aspen Institute notes that eligible colleges represent a wide variety of missions and sizes from urban to rural communities, reflecting a national trend toward valuing completion and bachelor s attainment alongside traditional workforce training. "Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message Community colleges can deliver the kind of life changing education that makes the American dream real," said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.

M State will now participate in the institute s review process as it seeks placement among the top ten finalists next June. For local leaders and employers, the coming months offer an opportunity to highlight successful programs and to frame college partnerships as a tool for regional economic resilience and long term population stability. Article by Derek Sidian, Nov. 3, 2025. Story courtesy of M State.