Twenty-two incarcerated students at Folsom State Prison have earned bachelor’s degrees from Sacramento State University, marking one of the state’s most academically accomplished graduating classes as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation continues expanding access to higher education behind prison walls.
The graduates received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Law and Society through Sacramento State’s Transforming Outcomes Project, with every graduate earning academic honors. Seventeen of the 22 students graduatedsumma cum laude, the highest academic distinction awarded by the university.
The Folsom graduates were among 135 incarcerated students across California correctional facilities who earned bachelor’s degrees during commencement ceremonies held throughout May and June, according to CDCR.
“Higher education serves as a powerful rehabilitative tool that transforms lives and improves public safety for all,” CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber said in announcing the statewide graduations. “I commend each graduate for taking this important step in preparing for a successful future.”
The accomplishments at Folsom State Prison stood out among this year’s graduating classes. Every graduate received academic honors, reflecting years of college-level coursework completed while incarcerated. The program is offered through Sacramento State University’s Transforming Outcomes Project, which also serves students at Mule Creek State Prison and is scheduled to expand to California Medical Facility next year.
The Folsom graduation is part of a broader effort by CDCR to make higher education available throughout California’s prison system. Today, more than 13.5 percent of California’s incarcerated population is enrolled in college courses, with community college enrollment exceeding 10,000 students each semester across all CDCR institutions.
Students can earn associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees through partnerships between CDCR and California’s public higher education systems, including the California Community Colleges, California State University and the University of California. Currently, the department has seven university partners offering bachelor’s degree programs at 12 state prisons.
Under the system, incarcerated students typically begin by completing lower-division coursework through community colleges before becoming eligible to transfer into institutions that offer bachelor’s degree programs.
Correctional education has increasingly become a central component of California’s rehabilitation strategy. According to CDCR, research has found that incarcerated individuals who participate in correctional education programs are 48 percent less likely to return to prison within three years than those who do not have access to educational opportunities. The department also reports that people who complete college coursework while incarcerated are 31 percent more likely to secure employment after their release.
While Folsom State Prison posted one of the strongest academic performances in this year’s graduating class, several other institutions across the state also celebrated significant milestones.
At nearby Mule Creek State Prison, 24 students earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication Studies through Sacramento State University. Twenty-two graduated with academic honors, including 11 students who achievedsumma cum laudedistinction.
At Centinela State Prison, San Diego State University’s Valuing Incarcerated Scholars through Academia (VISTA) program celebrated its second graduating class, awarding 29 bachelor’s degrees in Journalism. Nineteen graduates earned academic honors, including foursumma cum laudegraduates.
California State Prison, Los Angeles County celebrated the fourth graduating cohort of California State University, Los Angeles’ Prison Graduation Initiative, where 20 students earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication. The program, established a decade ago, was California’s first in-person bachelor’s degree program for incarcerated students and has since expanded to additional institutions, with a new cohort scheduled to begin this fall at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
The University of California, Irvine celebrated the third graduating class of its LIFTED program at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, where 25 students earned bachelor’s degrees in Sociology. Nineteen also completed minors in English, nine graduated with Latin honors, including foursumma cum laude, and six were nominated to Phi Beta Kappa.
Meanwhile, the University of California, Riverside celebrated the first graduating class of its LIFTED program at California Rehabilitation Center. Fifteen students earned bachelor’s degrees in Education, Society and Human Development with a concentration in Social Justice. Four graduates are scheduled for release to parole supervision and have already been accepted into master’s degree programs beginning this fall.
As California continues expanding college opportunities behind prison walls, officials say the programs are designed not only to reward academic achievement but also to prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reentry into their communities, improving employment prospects while reducing future incarceration.
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