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

[ss20ts]

The savings could well be illusory if the state is paying less on the tuition budget line but more on library or activity budget lines, and the later often involving state workers with appropriate benefits and retirement. The savings could also be illusory if a cheaper per credit hour program has a much higher rate of students starting but not completing.

What library? Online programs utilize the online library from the college. Computer labs? 1 computer can be used by multiple people. It's not like they're spending 8 hours a day on their studies.

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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.

What library? Online programs have access to online libraries. Many prisons already have a computer lab no need for multiple computer labs.  The article said that half of those who earned a degree are sentenced to life and will never leave prison which means they're not eligible for parole. I highly doubt 10 of these students will be commutated. 

20 people can easily share multiple computers. The cost of a computer today is practically nothing. Definitely not anywhere near $40K. What makes you think Calvin University is providing "more direct and intensive learning coaching than WGU and UMPI do"? There are are many programs available today which are significantly less than $40K. U of the People is a few hundred dollars a semester. There are other colleges that have programs for prisoners and they aren't charging $40K per student. Calvin University is using this as a money grab to to the tune of $800K PLUS Pell Grants.