Guided Pathways: Aspen Prize 200

How Guided Pathways Builds Toward Aspen Eligibility

MTC’s four Guided Pathways pillars map directly onto what Aspen measures. This alignment is not coincidental; both frameworks center on whether students complete credentials that lead to meaningful employment or successful transfer and bachelor’s attainment.

Date	Status	Cycle	Milestone Description	MTC Strategic Objective
Oct 2025	Complete	2027 Cycle	200 colleges named based on IPEDS and National Student Clearinghouse data.	Benchmark institutional metrics against Aspen’s criteria.
Apr 2026	Complete	2027 Cycle	25 semifinalists announced from 170 applying colleges.	Monitor practices and initiatives of top-performing peers.
Jun 2026	Complete	2027 Cycle	10 finalists announced for the 2027 cycle.	Study finalist program structures and student outcomes.
Fall 2026	Upcoming	2027 Cycle	Finalist site visits and additional data collection (including graduate wage data).	Observe Aspen evaluation methodologies and wage indicators.
Apr 2027	Upcoming	2027 Cycle	2027 Aspen Prize winner announced.	Review cycle takeaways to finalize internal targets.
Oct 2027	Goal	2029 Cycle	200 colleges named for 2029 cycle based on IPEDS and NSC data.	Target: MTC appears on the top 200 list.
Apr 2028	Goal	2029 Cycle	25 semifinalists announced (2029 cycle).	Aspiration: advance to the semifinalist round.
Jun 2028	Goal	2029 Cycle	10 finalists announced (2029 cycle).	Aspiration: advance to the national finalist cohort.
Fall 2028	Goal	2029 Cycle	Finalist site visits (2029 cycle).	If selected, host Aspen's on-campus site evaluation.
Apr 2029	Goal	2029 Cycle	2029 Aspen Prize winner announced.	Conclude 2029 competitive cycle.
Oct 2029	Goal	2031 Cycle	200 colleges named for the 2031 cycle based on IPEDS and NSC data.	Target: Repeat or improve MTC standing.
Apr 2030	Goal	2031 Cycle	25 semifinalists announced (2031 cycle).	Aspiration: advance to the semifinalist round.
Jun 2030	Goal	2031 Cycle	10 finalists announced (2031 cycle).	Aspiration: advance to the national finalist cohort.
Fall 2030	Goal	2031 Cycle	Finalist site visits (2031 cycle).	If selected, host Aspen's on-campus site evaluation.
Apr 2031	Goal	2031 Cycle	2031 Aspen Prize winner announced.	Conclude 2031 competitive cycle.
NOTE:  Dates after April 2027 are projected based on Aspen's two-year cycle. Aspen has not yet published schedules for the 2029 and 2031 cycles.