Students in three New York State prisons, enrolled through a joint initiative by Cornell University and Cayuga Community College, are now eligible for federal financial aid. This development supports both institutions’ commitment to making higher education more inclusive and accessible.
Participants in the Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP), who are enrolled in Cayuga Community College courses, can now apply for Pell Grants to help fund their associate degrees. Leaders from both schools highlighted how financial aid will increase enrollment capacity and provide equitable academic opportunities for incarcerated students.
“Making Pell Grants available to CPEP students is a great opportunity for current and future students to further pursue their academic journey,” said Dr. Keiko Kimura, Cayuga’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Rob Scott, Executive Director of CPEP, called the development a “major milestone” in a collaboration that has spanned nearly two decades.
The Department of Education approved the grants earlier this month. Applications for CPEP students will begin in the Fall 2025 semester. This decision marks a significant shift in federal policy, as Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals were suspended in 1994 and only reinstated through legislation passed in 2020.
The Cornell Prison Education Program offers college-level liberal arts courses that lead to either a Cornell Certificate in Liberal Arts or an Associate of Arts from Cayuga Community College. Since its inception in 2008, the program has operated at Auburn, Cayuga, and Five Points Correctional Facilities. The initiative also aims to foster personal development, social justice awareness, and successful reintegration into civic life.
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