Program to educate incarcerated people costs 40K per graduate?!

[Jonathan Whatley]

Why are taxpayers paying for degrees for people who will never leave a prison cell?

Well, taxpayers are already paying something for non-credit library and activity programming for lifers. This program with degree credit attached is probably not the most expensive prison program. Maybe it'll be effective at its stated goal of improving behavior and conditions. Also, paroles and commutations happen.

Wait a minute. It's $800K for 20 inmates PLUS the university gets their Pell Grants? Give me a break! 20 students for 6 sessions at UMPI a year is $168,000. Sounds like UMPI could cash in on inmates. WGU is around $160K a year for 20 people so they too could really cash in charging $800K plus the Pell Grants.

To go from nothing to 20 students in your prison taking UMPI or WGU assessments all year, there's a good chance you'll have to add staff hours and technology to the library or computer lab. Heck, there's a good chance you'll have to add a computer lab that hadn't previously existed. And if you want the program to be successful for a good number of entrants, it may well take more direct and intensive learning coaching than WGU and UMPI do or can provide at a distance.