Opening College Doors Behind Bars: Why Higher Education in Texas Prisons Matters to Us All

By Luis Soberon
 
Over 90% of incarcerated people will eventually be released from prison, and how they reenter society can make or break their chance for success. By expanding access to postsecondary education within prison facilities, we can turn them into launchpads for rehabilitation and workforce readiness, ensuring that those who have paid their debt to society return prepared to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
 
A growing body of evidence outlined in the Texas 2036 report, “Opening Doors: The State of Higher Education in Texas Prisons,” confirms what educators and policymakers have known for years: education reduces recidivism. Inmates who participate in postsecondary education programs are significantly less likely to return to prison. That saves taxpayer dollars and improves public safety.
 
Historically, access to college courses behind bars has been extremely limited. But recent changes in federal policy, including the reinstatement of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students, are opening the door to new possibilities. Texas can lead the nation by building a prison education system that truly prepares individuals for successful reentry.
 
Unfortunately, our report highlighted a 50% decline in incarcerated Texans enrolled in postsecondary programs between 2011 and 2022. This drop wasn’t for a lack of interest among incarcerated students; it was due to limited educational capacity within the prison system.
 
In April 2024, only 1,800 incarcerated students in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice were enrolled in college-level programs, but over 8,300 eligible individuals were waiting for open seats.
 
Expanding higher education capacity in prisons is not without its challenges. One is financial. In Texas, incarcerated individuals bear the responsibility of paying for their education, with some federal and state aid available to qualified students.
 
It also requires thoughtful coordination between correctional officials, academic institutions and policymakers as well as a cultural shift that recognizes education as a fundamental tool of rehabilitation.
 
Here’s the bottom line: Incarcerated Texans in college programs are less likely to return to prison and more likely to get a job — boosting public safety and offering a path for former inmates to return home to stable, productive lives.
 
Our Opening Doors report identifies a handful of key steps to expand college opportunities for inmates, such as:

• Letting Texas’s prison education experts, Windham School District, take the lead in coordinating prison-based college programs
• Improving access and utility of corrections, education, and workforce data to track success
• Aligning prison postsecondary education with statutes and state workforce goals

 
The rewards far outweigh the costs. Education behind bars builds safer prisons, reduces repeat offenses and prepares individuals for the dignity of work. And there’s the fiscal benefit as well. A recent study found that for every dollar invested in prison-based college education, the return is estimated at $1.61.
 
Every Texan deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and contribute to our state’s future, no matter where they begin, and every Texan benefits when those opportunities are expanded.
 
By investing in higher education in our prisons, we open doors. The benefits are not just for incarcerated Texans, but also for the communities that surround them and the entire state.
 
Luis Soberon is the senior policy advisor for justice and safety issues at Texas 2036, a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy organization.