Northwood Tech News

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has once again recognized Northwood Technical College as one of the nation’s best community colleges—naming it among the top 200 eligible to apply for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The Aspen Prize, often referred to as the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement among community colleges, honors institutions that demonstrate strong student success, workforce outcomes, and equitable results. Northwood Tech has previously been named to the Aspen Institute’s top U.S. community colleges list in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

“Being recognized among the top community colleges in the country reflects our continued commitment to innovation and putting students first,” said Dr. John Will, president of Northwood Tech. “This recognition highlights the dedication of our faculty, staff, and community partners who work every day to create new opportunities, empower students to reach their goals, and strengthen the communities we serve.”

The Aspen Prize selection process is an intensive two-year review conducted by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. The process includes analysis of data from about 1,000 public two-year colleges across the United States. Colleges are evaluated on student learning, graduation rates, employment and earnings after graduation, and equitable outcomes for all learners.

From the 200 eligible institutions, Aspen will select a group of finalists before choosing the top college to receive the $1 million prize in 2027.

At Northwood Tech, innovation and student success are at the heart of every program and partnership. This recognition reflects the college’s ongoing mission to strengthen communities by empowering each student to realize their own success story.

To learn more about the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, visit highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize.