Aspen Institute Names Lakeshore Technical College as a Top 150 U.S. Community College for the Fifth Consecutive Time

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11/5/2019

CLEVELAND, WI —

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program today named Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) as one of 150 community colleges eligible to complete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America's community colleges. This is the fifth consecutive time LTC has been invited, out of only 15 percent of community colleges nationwide, to apply for the Aspen Prize which is awarded every two years.

“Being recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Top 150 Community College for the fifth consecutive time is a direct reflection of our successful past, and our bright future,” said LTC President Dr. Paul Carlsen. “Our faculty and staff are totally committed to student success, and we are proud to see thought leaders across the nation taking notice.”

The top 150 community colleges named today as eligible to compete for the 2021 Aspen Prize were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide using publicly available data on student outcomes. Data show that student retention, graduation rates, and degree completion have improved at the top tier of 150 Aspen Prize-eligible colleges over the last two years. With a singular focus on student success, the Aspen Prize highlights institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high-levels of access and success for low-income and minority students.

LTC will move forward in the competition by submitting an application detailing its efforts and strategies which have resulted in notable gains in student success. The top 10 finalists will be named in May 2020, followed by site visits to collect additional quantitative data. Award decisions will be made in spring 2021.

For a full list of the top 150 eligible institutions and to learn more about the selection process, visit www.highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize.

About Lakeshore Technical College

Each year more than 10,000 people enroll in courses at Lakeshore Technical College. They rely on LTC for job preparation, to earn a degree, upgrade a specialized skill, train as an apprentice, or seek a high school equivalency. LTC faculty and staff meet students where they are in life and help them get one step closer to achieving their goals.

LTC is a nationally recognized technical college. The college was ranked the #2 two-year college in the nation for adult learners by Washington Monthly, the #17 trade school in the nation by Forbes, #11 in the nation for two-year college educational outcomes by WalletHub.com, a top-150 two-year college for the fifth consecutive time by the Aspen Institute, and a top 10 Bellwether Award finalist.

Approximately 800 students graduate from LTC each year, and LTC’s associate degree graduates earn a median salary of $47,800* per year. In addition to the Cleveland campus, LTC serves students in Manitowoc and Sheboygan, and offers classes at additional sites throughout the district. Visit LTC at gotoltc.edu.

*Source: 2019 LTC Graduate Outcomes report, 795 graduates contacted to complete the survey; 508 graduates or 64% completed the survey.