Graduation day looked a little different inside the California Institution for Women.
But the moment was familiar all the same. Caps, gowns and a group of proud students celebrating years of hard work.
22 incarcerated students recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies through California State University, Los Angeles. They are the first women to complete a degree through a partnership between the university and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The milestone marks a significant expansion of higher education opportunities inside California prisons.
“Higher education is key to the transformation and growth that we see today from many of the students graduating,” said Gavin Newsom. “I’m proud to see them taking a step in the right direction to contribute positively to our society.”
Officials say the program reflects a broader shift in how correctional systems approach rehabilitation.
Jeff Macomber, secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said the graduates demonstrated remarkable dedication while completing their studies.
“Today’s milestone reflects the power of education to transform lives,” Macomber said. “These graduates have demonstrated a true commitment to building a better future. By expanding access to higher education inside our institutions, we are not only opening doors for personal growth but also strengthening pathways for safer, healthier communities across California. I congratulate each graduate and extend my gratitude to all who supported them along the way.”
The ceremony also featured a keynote address from tennis legend and Cal State LA alumna Billie Jean King, who spoke directly to the graduates about perseverance and opportunity.
“Never stop learning, and never stop learning how to learn,” King said. “Be a problem solver and an innovator. Only you graduates understand what it took to earn this degree. This can be a turning point. Use your new platform, live your new future. Today is your day. Keep believing yourself, keep dreaming and keep going for it.”
The graduation is part of the Prison Graduation Initiative, a collaboration between the corrections department and Cal State LA that began in 2016 at California State Prison, Los Angeles County.
Since then, 73 incarcerated students have earned bachelor’s degrees through the program. Another 21 completed their coursework after being released and continued their studies at the university.
California has steadily expanded educational opportunities behind bars in recent years. Officials say thousands of incarcerated people enroll annually in programs designed to help them gain skills and prepare for life after release.
Research has shown the impact can be significant. Studies indicate that incarcerated individuals who participate in correctional education are 48 percent less likely to return to prison within three years compared with those who do not have access to such programs.
The initiative continues to grow.
In May, Cal State LA partnered with the corrections department to establish the first college campus inside a prison at the California Institution for Men. The program currently serves 59 students pursuing degrees through a two-year, 60-unit curriculum designed to connect classroom learning with future career paths.
By the 2025–26 academic year, the Prison Graduation Initiative is expected to serve about 180 students across three facilities: California State Prison, Los Angeles County; the California Institution for Women; and the California Institution for Men.
More broadly, California’s corrections system now works with public universities across the state to offer associate, bachelor’s and even master’s degree programs through community colleges, the California State University system and the University of California.
📸 credit: California Department of Corrections
