FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Lisa McPheron
Executive Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs
626‐914‐8872
lmcpheron@citruscollege.edu
Citrus College selected to compete for prestigious 2027 Aspen Prize
Glendora, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2025) - With a rich, 110-year legacy of academic distinction in higher education, Citrus College recently received its seventh consecutive invitation to compete against the best community colleges in the United States for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
Awarded every two years by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, the prize serves as the nation's premier recognition of high achievement among community colleges. As a top institution, Citrus College will vie for $1 million in shared Aspen Prize funds.
"It is an honor for Citrus College to receive yet another invitation to compete for the Aspen Prize," said Dr. Greg Schulz, superintendent/president of Citrus College. "None of this would be possible without our passionate and skilled faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to promote student success. The entire campus community is grateful to them for their dedication and hard work."
Citrus College was chosen among the top 200 from a field of approximately 1,000 community colleges. Selection criteria included completion, transfer, retention and bachelor's degree attainment rates. Only 13 other higher education institutions in California were included on the list and invited to apply for the Aspen Prize.
"The Aspen Prize rewards colleges that achieve the kind of outcomes that actually matter to students – completing college degree programs that, in turn, lead to lifelong success," said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. "Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real."
From the current field, 25 semifinalists will be chosen before the list is narrowed down to 10 finalists. Ultimately, one winner will be selected in early 2027. The $1 million prize purse will be split between the winner, finalists with distinction and rising star recipients.
To learn more about the process, visit as.pn/prize.
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