Fewer Than 2% of Illinois Inmates Enrolled in College Programs

Mayor's visit highlights the possibilities and obstacles for incarcerated students seeking higher education.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:35am

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A hazy, impressionistic photograph showing the silhouettes of people engaged in a discussion, with the scene bathed in a soft, warm glow, conveying the atmosphere of an intimate educational setting within a correctional facility.The mayor's visit to a prison education program highlights the transformative potential of higher learning behind bars.Chicago Today

Fewer than 2% of the over 30,000 incarcerated people in Illinois are enrolled in college-level programs, despite research showing education leads to better outcomes for those leaving prison. The mayor of Chicago recently visited one of the 12 prison education programs in the state, organized by Northwestern University, to speak with incarcerated students about building an economy that works for everyone.

Why it matters

Access to higher education in Illinois prisons is extremely limited, with only 12 college programs available across the state's 30 correctional facilities. This lack of educational opportunities hinders the ability of incarcerated individuals to improve their prospects for successful reintegration into society upon release.

The details

During the mayor's visit to Sheridan Correctional Center, he spoke with incarcerated students enrolled in the Northwestern Prison Education Program, covering topics from public education to affordable housing. One student, Darvin Henderson, said the opportunity to meet influential politicians like the mayor was something he never imagined possible while incarcerated. The mayor encouraged the students to use their energy to help build an economy that works for everyone, rather than relying on prisons.

  • On March 15, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson visited Sheridan Correctional Center.
  • The WBEZ Prisoncast! special broadcast on prison education will air on Sunday, April 12, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The players

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago who visited Sheridan Correctional Center to speak with incarcerated students.

Darvin Henderson

An incarcerated student enrolled in the Northwestern Prison Education Program who said the opportunity to meet the mayor was something he never imagined possible while incarcerated.

Northwestern Prison Education Program

A college-level program organized by Northwestern University that provides educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals in Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“Take that same energy and help me build an economy that works for everyone so we don't need prisons.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

“Those opportunities never even was available, and look: I'm in the prison, people would think I'm at the bottom, and yet I'm rubbing elbows with people at the top.”

— Darvin Henderson, Incarcerated student

What’s next

The upcoming WBEZ Prisoncast! special broadcast on April 12 will provide more in-depth coverage of the challenges and possibilities of prison education in Illinois.

The takeaway

The limited access to college-level programs in Illinois prisons highlights the significant barriers incarcerated individuals face in obtaining higher education, which research shows can lead to better outcomes upon release. Expanding these educational opportunities could help break the cycle of incarceration and create more pathways for rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.