These Kansas two-year colleges have been recognized as top schools in the nation
Salina Area Technical College has made a list of top two-year colleges in the nation for the eighth consecutive year, by an entity that honors colleges with improving levels of student success and equity in student outcomes.
Colleges selected for this recognition by The Aspen Institute in Washington D.C. stand out among more than 1,000 two-year colleges across the nation for having high levels of student success and equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students, as well as students from lower-income backgrounds.
Those selected have a chance to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of achievement and performance among two-year colleges.
Salina Area Technical College was one among seven total two-year schools in Kansas selected this year.
“By many measures, two-year colleges in Kansas out-perform similar institutions across the country, and Salina Tech routinely leads Kansas in metrics such as graduation rates, job placement and overall student success,” Salina Tech President Greg Nichols said in a statement. “This recognition is the result of years of work by our faculty and staff, continuously looking at how we can improve what we do.”
Kansas two-year colleges rank high nationwide for graduation rates, career placement
Other Kansas institutions who made the list are Cloud County Community College, Coffeyville Community College, Flint Hills Technical College, Manhattan Area Technical College, North Central Kansas Technical College and Northwest Kansas Technical College.
The 150 colleges chosen have been invited to submit student success data and narratives about strategies to achieve better and more equitable student outcomes.
An intensive review process follows, then the Aspen Prize winner is announced in spring 2025. The award is administered every two years.
In a statement regarding the schools selected this year, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Josh Wyner said the best community colleges are effectively navigating troubling times in education.
"The best community colleges are continuing to focus on advancing the core mission: making sure as many students as possible graduate with credentials that lead to fulfilling careers and reflect the development of diverse talent that communities, states, and our nation need," Wyner said.
Some of the metrics the Aspen Institute examines to make its selections include the overall three-year graduation rate, the three-year graduation rate among students of color, and the three-year graduation rate among low-income students.
Salina Tech's overall three-year graduation rate is right around 79% and has stayed at that mark for several years now.
“These 150 colleges have achieved high and improving levels of student success for all students, including those who are often failed by our institutions,” Wyner said in a statement. “We’re excited to learn over the coming months how they achieved that success so we can share the most impressive practices with others in the field.”
Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @calfee_kc.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Kansas two-year schools honored among best in nation, vie for prize
