Thousands of prisoners throughout the United States get their college degrees while behind bars, most of them paid for by the federal Pell Grant program, which offers those in need undergraduate tuition aid that they don’t have to repay. 

These higher education in prison programs, such as Loyola University’s Rayburn program, are found to have profound effects in improving prison safety and lessens the likelihood of a repeat offender. 

The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison works nationwide to advocate for available education to incarcerated people as well as provide students with opportunities after release. 

“It’s about people who are like us and will one day be with us,” said Ved Price, the executive director of the program. 

The National Conference on Higher Education in Prison, organized by the alliance, brought together nearly one thousand educators, advocates, formerly incarcerated individuals, and policymakers in downtown New Orleans on April 11 and 12. 

The conference was designed to uplift the stories of incarcerated students and help educators and policymakers advocate for prison education to the best of their abilities. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.