Northwest Mississippi Community College named among top 200 U.S. Community Colleges

• Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) is one of 200 institutions eligible to compete for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
• The $1 million award, given every two years, is the nation’s premier recognition for high-achieving two-year colleges.
• This is the third consecutive time NWCC has been named eligible, highlighting its commitment to student success and academic value.

WASHINGTON — The Aspen Institute on Tuesday named Northwest Mississippi Community College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.

This announcement, made for the ninth cycle of the prize, marks the third consecutive time Northwest has received the recognition.

“This recognition reaffirms that Northwest stands among the nation’s top community colleges,” said Dr. Michael Heindl, president of Northwest Mississippi Community College. “Out of more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide, Northwest continues to be a valuable institution for Mississippi by offering outstanding academic programs and student services at an exceptional value.”

The Aspen College Excellence Program evaluates community colleges nationwide by conducting extensive analyses of student outcomes. The prize identifies institutions that demonstrate high and improving levels of access and success for all students.

The $1 million Aspen Prize, awarded every two years, recognizes exceptional colleges that achieve outstanding results in teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, and equitable access to programs.

Dr. Matthew Domas, the college’s vice president of instruction, said the invitation reflects the quality of the school’s results.

“It comes as no surprise for Northwest to be invited to compete for the Aspen prize,” Domas said. “The caliber of our programs, our transfer and graduation rates, and our student success rates in the workforce are some of the best in the country. We will be a compelling contender for this prize.”

Prize winners and finalists are selected through three rounds of rigorous data analysis and qualitative research conducted by independent experts and selection committees.

The Prize is supported by Ascendium, the Joyce Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.