Alabama Governor Commends Wallace State as a Top 3 Community College in the Nation

Hanceville, Ala. — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey commended Wallace State Community College and President Vicki Karolewics for the college’s outstanding accomplishments, including being named a Rising Star by the Aspen Institute for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, making it one of the Top 3 colleges in the United States.

“We are honored to have Governor Ivey recognize Wallace State with a commendation outlining the achievements the college has earned over the last year,” Dr. Karolewics said. 

Wallace State Community College was named a Rising Star by the Aspen Institute, which places the college among the Top 3 community colleges in the nation. Wallace State is the first community college in the state of Alabama to be a finalist for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and has six times been named among the top 150 colleges in the nation.

The commendation also noted Dr. Karolewics’ selection as an Aspen Fellow, recognizing her visionary leadership for the college and the community.

Other accolades recognized in the commendation include:

• The college’s 51 percent three-year graduation rate, outpacing the national average of 35 percent; a persistence rate of 85 percent, transfer success rate of 78 percent, and employment and licensure rates of more than 90 percent, all well above national averages
• Wallace State’s total economic impact of $276.1 million in added income and support of 4,106 jobs, or one in every 35 jobs, in its service area
• Wallce State’s impact as a vital community partner and virtual powerhouse of education and training, offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs
• Wallace State enrolls approximately 10,000 students each year in college credit and workforce-credit courses, adult education and dual enrollment

Wallace State has also been named a Military Friendly College, is an Achieving the Dream Leader College, has been designated as a Caring Campus, has been ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, and much more.

The Summer 2025 semester is currently underway, with Mini Term II classes beginning July 3. Registration for the Fall 2025 semester is underway, with classes beginning Aug. 19 for regular and Mini Term I, Flex Start terms begin Aug. 26 and Sept. 2, and Mini Term II classes begin Oct. 16.

For more information, visit www.wallacestate.edu, call Lion Central at 256.352.8236 or come by the Hanceville or Oneonta campus centers. Current and incoming students may schedule an advising session with the Center for Student Success at www.wallacestate.edu/advising.

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.