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Incarcerated individuals face significant barriers when re-entering mainstream society, and access to higher education has long been considered one of the most important support mechanisms for those who are preparing for life beyond prison. With a commitment to the Franciscan values of dignity, peace, justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship, Marian University has created an innovative partnership program that provides college programs for incarcerated women.
Marian University Women’s College Partnership (WCP) brings an accredited liberal arts education directly inside correctional facilities, giving incarcerated women in Indiana the opportunity to earn an associate or bachelor's degree. Nationally recognized for its impact, WCP proves that higher education in prison can promote intellectual growth, restore dignity, and support the preparation required for successful reentry.
The WCP functions as the primary Marian University academic campus within Indiana Women's Prison, making college education in prison in Indiana possible. Students in this program have the opportunity to pursue fully accredited associate and bachelor's degree programs that mirror traditional campus standards, ultimately providing strategic reentry support for incarcerated women. Providing academic structure, faculty mentorship, and intellectual engagement, the WCP creates a supportive and transformative learning environment within correctional settings.
The WCP was founded in 2019, and since then, it has grown from 16 students to more than 60 students. In 2024, admissions to the program were expanded to women at the Rockville Correctional Facility, providing prison education programs for women at no cost to them or the Indiana Department of Correction.
Students in this program pursue associate and bachelor's degree programs as full-time learners. The coursework that is required meets the same academic expectations as the programs available on Marian University's main campus, with all degree pathways emphasizing depth, progression, and accountability. Students enjoy an immersive and engaging learning environment that reinforces discipline and allows students to see themselves as scholars and valuable contributors to their communities.
In addition to completing traditional academic coursework, WCP students benefit from interactive and collaborative learning experiences. The program extends beyond lectures to include mentored study halls, wellness workshops, career development sessions, and student organizations. Through targeted support, students can improve academic ability, gain confidence, and strengthen the interpersonal skills needed to transition back into society once again. In addition to focusing on academic accomplishment, this program supports holistic growth and development.
Financial access remains one of the most significant barriers to higher education, especially for incarcerated individuals. Tuition-free programming is a hallmark of the WCP, giving incarcerated women the ability to pursue degrees without cost to themselves or the Indiana Department of Correction. This innovative approach opens up new doors for women in prison in Indiana, and reinforces the belief that education is a right tied to dignity rather than privilege alone.
This nationally recognized program was established in 2019, when its founding class consisted of a cohort of 16 students who were ready and willing to begin associate and bachelor's degree programs. Today, there are more than 60 enrolled students, and in 2024, the program expanded to Rockville Correction Facility. As a result of this broadened access, the majority of incarcerated women in Indiana have a chance to earn a degree while in prison.
With a deep commitment to upholding the Franciscan values of dignity, peace, justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship, Marian University co-founded the WCP alongside the Bard Prison Initiative to expand access to higher education in prison. Education provides a pathway toward reconciliation, leadership, and responsible stewardship, and this program affirms the inherent dignity of each individual — regardless of their circumstances in life. Throughout this program, students begin to see learning as a path toward restoration rather than remediation.
The undergraduate degree programs available through the WCP emphasize more than academic learning and knowledge acquisition alone. These rigorous liberal arts programs are designed to advance peace and justice within correctional environments. As students complete their coursework and engage in programming, they cultivate the critical thinking, communication, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and ethical reasoning skills that are needed for both personal growth and community engagement. This mission-centered framework sets WCP apart as a transformative educational experience rather than a traditional prison initiative.
Recognizing the nuanced needs of incarcerated women in Indiana, administrators and instructors within the WCP collaborate with established prison education networks to continuously evaluate, refine, and strengthen its academic model. Through shared expertise, Marian University can contribute to the broader movement focused on improving access to liberal arts in prison settings across the country. Our innovative partnerships with providers nationwide not only broaden access overall but also continuously improve the quality of the academic programs available through the WCP.
To continue expanding our program and strengthening the national discourse surrounding higher education in prison, Marian University actively works to build strategic partnerships in the education and criminal justice fields. By participating in the Bard Prison Initiative consortium, which is dedicated to expanding the role of liberal arts in prison, the WCP can improve curriculum integrity and implement evidence-based practices that support strong outcomes among learners. The result of these strategic partnerships is a scalable model that offers proven credibility.
While the WCP primarily provides prison education programs for women, the holistic support that students enjoy extends long after they earn their degree. The program is enhanced by targeted reentry supports that help alumnae transition into society with confidence as they continue their education, search for employment opportunities, and begin to engage with their community. Rather than treating education to an end, this program establishes academic growth and development as the foundation for long-term success.
To support a seamless transition after incarceration ends, the WCP embeds career workshops, advising, and continued academic pathways into the program. Alumnae can continue their studies at Marian's main campus or apply their degrees directly within their communities. Through professional development and holistic support, Marian's WCP offers durable and sustainable outcomes.
There is a clear connection between access to higher education in prison and lower recidivism rates. Data published by NASPA reveals that incarcerated individuals who earn an associate degree in prison have a recidivism rate of 15%, while those who earn a bachelor's degree have a lower recidivism rate of just 5%. These statistics highlight the importance of using education as a foundation for long-term success post-incarceration. When incarcerated women can earn a college degree, the impact extends beyond their own career development — it branches out into children, communities, and local economies, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.
Marian University Women’s College Partnership program demonstrates what is possible when institutions for higher learning make a full commitment to dignity and responsible stewardship. The prison education programs for women available through the WCP create a positive culture within correctional facilities and support alumnae throughout the reentry process. Marian University is reshaping what opportunity looks like for women across Indiana and providing a framework for what is possible nationwide.
As the WCP continues to broaden access to college programs for incarcerated women, it serves as a national model for what education can look like inside prison walls. Through structured academic programs and holistic supports, this program provides individuals with a pathway forward in which they are more likely to successfully reconnect with their families and reengage with their communities in productive and fulfilling ways.
Our college programs for incarcerated women allow those in prison to enjoy the values-based student experience that students benefit from on our main campus and within our online programs. Offering a faith-based learning environment rooted in a commitment to dignity, respect, and intellectual growth, Marian University strives to educate the next generation of transformative leaders who will serve their communities in the years to come.
Connect with your admissions counselor and learn more about Marian University today.
Sources
https://www.marian.edu/provost/womens-college-partnership
https://www.marian.edu/about-marian/
https://www.marian.edu/provost/
https://www.marian.edu/admissions/financial-aid/
https://www.marian.edu/online/student-experience
https://www.marian.edu/admissions/find-your-admissions-counselor/
https://www.naspa.org/blog/prison-education-programs-and-higher-education
