Resources: College and Higher Education Courses

PARC corresponds with and mails a directory of these resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. We are often the first point of contact for people to connect with prisoners' rights organizations, community organizations, prison literature and arts projects, family and visiting resources, health care and legal resources, parole and pre-release resources, and the prison abolition movement.

Download a PDF copy of the 2023 edition linked here.

Resource Category
Adams State University Prison College Program

Take courses and earn a degree through print-based correspondence! ASU-PEP offers Associates's, Bachelor's, and Masters's degrees. Courses through ASU-PEP are $264 per credit hour and the MBA degree is $350 per credit hour. Print-based courses offered as part of the Paralegal I & II, and advanced Paralegal certificate programs have a tuition rate of $948 and are offered in collaboration with the Center of Legal Studies (CLS). Other courses offered through CLS follow the undergraduate tuition rates. Please note tuition rates do not include the cost of books. Write for course catalog and application information. Serves people nationally.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Ashland University Correctional Education

Ashland University serves over 1,000 incarcerated students annually with college curriculum.  The programs are offered to adult prisoners in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and juvenile prisoners in the Ohio Department of Youth Services.  A recent emphasis has been placed on the development and delivery of online courses for the correctional programs which do not require live internet access. Serves Ohio only.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Bard Prison Initiative

The Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) creates the opportunity for incarcerated men and women at Bayview, Eastern, Elmira, Green Haven, and Woodbourne Correctional Facilities to earn a Bard College degree while serving their sentences. BPI enrolls nearly 300 incarcerated men and women across a full spectrum of academic disciplines, and offers over 60 courses each semester. To apply, one must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Admission to BPI is highly competitive — typically there are ten applications for each available spot. Many gain admission after more than one application. The admissions process involves both a written exam and a personal interview. Only serves individuals in select New York State prisons.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Blackstone Career Institute

Blackstone’s accredited Paralegal Certificate Program enables students to learn about the law and the paralegal field by studying at their own pace and at their facility. It can be completed in less than a year and provides information that can be put into practice while incarcerated and once released. No computers, proctors, or facility instructors are required. Soft-covered books and materials are used for ease of entry into most institutions. Their Paralegal certificate program includes the 900 clock hours of coursework needed to sit for the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) exam and/or the Professional Paralegal (PP) certification, or the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal (CLA/CP) exam. Write for enrollment information. Currently serves all states.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
College Guild

Grassroots education nonprofit providing free correspondence courses to incarcerated people covering subjects in science, writing, history, art, and culture.  send name, ID number, and mailing address with a request to be put on the waiting list.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Cornell Prison Education Program

The Cornell Prison Education Program brings together Cornell faculty and graduate students to teach a free college-level liberal arts curriculum to a select group incarcerated at several correctional facilities near Cornell University. New York State only. 


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Education Justice Project

The Education Justice Project (EJP) is a comprehensive college-in-prison program at Danville Correctional Center in central Illinois. Students earn transferable University of Illinois credit. EJP publishes two reentry guides, Mapping Your Future: A Guide to Successful Reentry in Illinois and A New Path: A Guide to the Challenges and Opportunities After DeportationMapping Your Future focuses on Illinois resources, but much of the information it contains is useful to people in other states. Hard copies are available for free from EJP and it is available for download. A New Path is a guide for people getting deported to Mexico and Central America. It is also available for free and online. Both are published in Engligh and Spanish.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison

Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison provides college educations, life skills and re-entry support to incarcerated men and women incarcerated in NY state correctional facilities. Hudson Link also provides wraparound alumni services. Through Hudson Link, degree-granting college programs are offered to prisoners at Fishkill, Sing Sing, Greene, Shawangunk and Sullivan Correctional Facilities for Men and Taconic Correctional Facility for Women, with the following degrees offered: Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees in Behavioral Science, and Bachelor Degree in Organizational Management. Serves New York state only.


 


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program

Organization supporting education model that brings together campus-based college students with incarcerated students for a class held inside jail or prison. this is a training center for Inside-Out education programs all across the country. it does not directly teach students. Write to find out if there is an inside-out program in your state.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Mount Tamalpais College

Mount Tamalpais College is an independently accredited liberal arts college inside San Quentin State Prison. We offer a 61-unit Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts as well as a college preparatory program in math and writing. We offer 20 college courses each semester, allowing students to complete the coursework necessary for transfer to any California State University or University of California campus. The sole requirement for participation is a high school diploma or GED. No student is excluded based on age, length of sentence, commitment offense, or time left to serve. We charge no fees or tuition and provide all the necessary textbooks, course readers, and school supplies. We only provide education to people based in San Quentin State Prison in California.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Ohio University Correctional Education

Ohio University offers print-based courses to earn degree or simply take courses. Offers Associates, Bachelors, and Legal Studies Certificate courses. Write for a student inquiry packet and application, or get family/friends to download from the internet and mail directly to you. Offers courses nationally.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Project Rebound, Cal Poly Pomona

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from Cal Poly Pomona. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, CAL State Fullerton

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from Cal State Fullerton. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, Cal State LA

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from CAL State LA. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, CSU Bakersfield

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from CSU Bakersfield. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


     

 


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, CSU Northridge

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from CSU Northridge. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


     

 


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, CSU San Marcos

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from CSU San Marcos. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


     

 


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, CSU Stanislaus

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from CSU Stanislaus. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


     

 


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, Fresno State

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from Fresno State University. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, Humboldt State

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from Humboldt State University. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


     

 


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, Long Beach State

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from Long Beach State University. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


     

 


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, Sacramento State

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from Sacramento State University. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, San Bernadino

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from CSU San Bernadino. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, San Diego State

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and
graduate with a degree(s) from San Diego State University. Project Rebound offers academic guidance, peer mentoring and tutoring, and referrals to academic and non-academic resources. Project Rebound serves formerly incarcerated individuals from all states.


    

 


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Project Rebound, San Francisco State

Project Rebound is a program to help formerly incarcerated students prepare, apply, enroll and graduate with a degree from SF State University. The program offers academic and financial counseling, peer mentoring and tutoring, and career placement. Serves released Californians only.


College and Higher Education Courses, Regional Advocacy Organizations, California
Upper Iowa University

Upper Iowa University offers a Self-Paced Degree Program, with courses in paper format that can be completed at a distance. The Self-Paced paper format is structured around written assignments and proctored exams. Offers associate degrees in business administration, criminal justice, liberal arts, psychology, and social science. Write for tuition costs ($990 per course 2021-22 academic year) and course catalog. Write, do not call. Serves students nationwide.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses