Triton College in River Grove will compete for the national Aspen Institute’s 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The prize is a top national award for community colleges and only the top 200 colleges in the nation are eligible to compete. Besides bragging rights, a win would mean a $1 million prize and recognition for student success at the two-year institution. That success includes retention, student program completion and bachelor’s degree attainment. Triton is one of 21 Illinois community colleges to be nominated and among 200 nationally.
For Triton, the Aspen recognition is a first.
“Being included in this group is a significant milestone,” said Triton College President Mary-Rita Moore. “It affirms the progress our students, faculty and staff have achieved together in improving completion, transfer and career outcomes while expanding equitable access to higher education.”
This is only the beginning of a much longer process. The top community college in the nation will be announced in the spring of 2027 following 20 months of investigation by the selection panel. Semifinalists will be announced in April and finalists will be named next summer.
Triton was founded in 1964 and Moore said since then, the college has kept focus improving itself for students.
“This recognition reflects years of intentional, college-wide work to improve access, completion, transfer and workforce outcomes for every student,” she said.
Community colleges are often first stops for high school graduates before going off to a four-year program, and they offer opportunities for continuing education for career changers and others looking to get into new careers or get ahead in existing careers.
Triton enrolls over 16,000 students each year and Moore said the school focuses on teaching skills in “high demand regional industries” like healthcare, manufacturing, education and public service. According to its website, the school offers more than 120 degree programs and certifications in a wide variety of areas.
Moore says the goal is to get students in a position to get employed. Those student outcomes are reflected in the Aspen recognition.
“For Triton, it acknowledges years of work to strengthen student outcomes, support first-generation learners and expand clear pathways leading directly to good jobs or further education,” Moore said. “This recognition also underscores the essential role community colleges play as engines of economic mobility and regional vitality. We view it as both an honor and a responsibility, to continue innovating, collaborating with employers, K–12 districts and universities, and ensuring that every student we serve can achieve lasting success.”
Triton was not alone, however, among Illinois community colleges. In total, 21 colleges in the state got included among the 200 candidates for the top spot nationally.
“The inclusion of these Illinois colleges among the top 200 underscores our statewide commitment to student success, equity and innovation,” said Illinois Community College Board Chair Sylvia Jenkins in a news release. “These institutions are making a real difference locally and nationally—this recognition affirms the value and impact of their work for students, employers and communities.”
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/18/triton-college-aspen-award/
