Programs
Bachelor’s Degree
NPEP students at Sheridan Correctional Center and Logan Correctional Center seek a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in social sciences, taking a full course load all four quarters of each academic year. Completion of degrees typically takes four to five years.
Applications are available to incarcerated men across the state of Illinois for participation in NPEP. Accepted applicants at other facilities are transferred to Sheridan Correctional Center, a multi-security prison in Sheridan, Illinois, to participate in NPEP.
Applications are available to incarcerated women at Logan Correctional Center.
In December of 2021, the first cohort of NPEP students at Stateville accomplished a major milestone by being accepted as degree-seeking students at Northwestern University — an achievement made possible by the Provost’s approval earlier that same year to grant bachelor’s degrees to our students.
On November 15, 2023, NPEP’s first cohort at Stateville etched their names into history books as they became the first incarcerated students in U.S. history to earn a bachelor’s degree from a top ten university. Their historic accomplishment is a testament to their hard work and unwavering dedication.
NPEP hopes to inspire future incarcerated students to continue blazing new trails in the pursuit of academic excellence and a brighter future.
Associate’s Degree
NPEP students at Sheridan Correctional Center have the opportunity to pursue an Associate in General Studies degree from our partner, Oakton College.
Two cohorts of students have graduated from Oakton through NPEP, the first in the spring of 2022 and the second in the fall of 2022.
Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
NPEP is grateful to offer credit-granting college courses to students who have received their high school diploma or GED and are currently experiencing incarceration in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ).
Many of our students will return to their home communities soon and will be able to enroll full-time in college (including Northwestern) if they desire, and these courses provide credits that students can apply to their diplomas. Students in IDJJ have taken courses in a wide range of disciplines, including physics, marketing, public speaking, and more.
In addition, to provide holistic support to our students in IDJJ, members of UPEP provide one-on-one peer mentorship to cultivate meaningful friendships, partner with students in their coursework, and build upon the strengths of the students to pursue their goals.
We are proud to often offer our courses and events on-campus so students and IDJJ can have the full Northwestern experience. Please contact IDJJ Program Director Molly Crane to get involved.
Cook County Department of Corrections
In collaboration with the Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC), the Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP) offers six-week introductory college-level mini courses at the Cook County Jail in Chicago. Each course includes twelve hours of in-person instruction, delivered primarily by advanced graduate, medical, and law students. Offered across security levels and in both the men’s and women’s divisions, these courses provide meaningful academic engagement for individuals who are incarcerated pre-trial or serving short-term sentences—populations often excluded from sustained access to higher education. At the same time, the program creates a unique space for Northwestern student instructors to deepen their pedagogical skills and develop a more expansive understanding of justice, equity, and the transformative potential of education in carceral settings.
