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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — RTI International, an independent scientific research institute, is launching a 2.5-year study supported by Ascendium Education Group to examine how higher education in prison programs is financed following the restoration of Pell Grant eligibility for students who are incarcerated.
As colleges expand or launch HEP programs, they need a better understanding of funding approaches, gaps, and variations across institutions and contexts. The study will use background research, a national survey, and in-depth interviews to document current approaches, cost structures, and sustainability strategies.
“This study comes at a critical moment for colleges and corrections agencies working to expand access to higher education in prison,” said Michelle Tolbert, MEd, project director at RTI. “This research will provide practical information they can use to understand costs, address funding gaps, and make informed decisions about building high-quality programs that are financially sustainable.”
The study will focus on documenting funding approaches across institutions, with particular attention to two-year public colleges, which operate roughly half of all higher education in prison programs nationwide.
Findings from the study are expected to offer guidance for college leaders, policymakers and departments of corrections as they expand access to higher education for people who are incarcerated and plan for sustainable growth.
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About Ascendium Education Group
Ascendium Education Group® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven by the belief that learning after high school gives people the power to build better futures. Our national philanthropy focuses on increasing opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training. We partner with organizations whose objectives align with our core strategies to expand opportunity, support learner success, and connect and align systems. Our grantees include postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers, and media organizations from across the U.S. To learn more, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.
RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.
For more information, visit www.rti.org.
