Cornell University is set to become the first Ivy League institution to offer bachelor's degrees to incarcerated individuals. The Cornell Prison Education Program will launch a three-year Bachelor of Professional Studies program at Cayuga Correctional Facility in August 2027.
The medium-security prison for men, located in Moravia, New York, is approximately 20 miles from the Ithaca-based university. The program's primary major will be "Organizations, Markets and Society," a degree combining business, policy, and social science studies.
A first cohort of 12 to 18 inmates will be eligible to enroll, provided they have an associate's degree or the equivalent of two years of undergraduate education. These inmates can include those currently housed at Cayuga or individuals seeking to transfer to the facility. The curriculum will incorporate economics, statistics, data analytics, entrepreneurship, marketing, and finance, utilizing a blend of self-paced learning and in-person sessions with Cornell professors. These in-person sessions are intended for discussion and networking opportunities.
Cornell stated that "strict standards" will be applied regarding the "antecedent background and ongoing conduct of participants" to ensure the program's integrity. A spokesperson for the Cornell Prison Education Program emphasized the initiative's goal: "We do this work in the pursuit of breaking the cycles of crime and incarceration—making a safer and more just society for all."
Since its establishment in 2001, the Cornell Prison Education Program has provided education to over 1,000 inmates at Cayuga, Auburn, and Five Points correctional facilities, with 200 completing an associate's degree. These inmates have historically received waived tuition and fees.
The program has received financial support, including $750,000 over five years from the Manhattan District Attorney's office through its Criminal Justice Investment Initiative. Last year's course offerings included poetry, astronomy, creative writing, social psychology, world civilization, microeconomics, infectious diseases, introductory math, and meditation.
The Cornell Prison Education Program website describes its efforts to create an environment "much closer to a true college experience," highlighting extracurricular activities such as a debate club at Cayuga that fosters a "thoughtful and nonjudgmental atmosphere" aimed at "liberating the mind."
Separately, New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed special prosecutor to investigate whether criminal charges should be filed against seven Cornell fraternity brothers accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a student. Two of the defendants have filed motions seeking James's recusal, citing perceived prejudice in her public statements about the case.