Michigan Inmates Break Record With 250+ College Graduates

More than 250 incarcerated individuals in Michigan will have completed college or other post-secondary studies while also still behind bars. This is a big accomplishment for the state of Michigan and those individuals.

The Michigan Department of Corrections hosted its biggest prison graduation at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti on September 18, 2025. Seventy women walked away with associate's or bachelor's degrees, given by Jackson Community College or Eastern Michigan University.

Families were invited to see the ceremony in Michigan, where the caps and gowns were donned.

Director of the program, Heidi E. Washington, called Michigan a "trailblazer." The program has allowed those behind bars to get post-secondary opportunities, and the number of people in custody has grown over the past decade. Enrollment has surged, with 1,300 incarcerated students participating in taking college-level courses.

It helps individuals secure better-paying jobs, reduces recidivism, and opens doors they wouldn't have otherwise.

There were a couple of graduates who can be pointed out as standout members of the program.

• Richard A Handlon in Ionia:
  • 10 bachelor's degrees from Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
• Many different facilities partnered with these individuals:
  • Jackson College
  • Siena Heights University
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Delta College
  • Mott Community College

The Huron Valley also added 70 graduates to the total count.

This record is still expected to be broken. The state's investment in education behind bars is really paying off.

For the people incarcerated, their families, and the communities waiting for their return, it offers these people more of a second chance and hope for real transformation outside of the cells.