UNC-Chapel Hill Correctional Education Program

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety partners with UNC-Chapel Hill to provide a variety of educational resources to inmates. Over the last 50 years we have worked with thousands of incarcerated individuals throughout North Carolina on their journey in higher education and lifelong learning!

Who is eligible?

Only those incarcerated in the North Carolina prison system qualify for the Correctional Education Program.

Participants must have a GED score of at least 250, a WRAT reading grade level of at least 10.0, or prior college (or community college) academic credits. Students must be able to provide proof of their GED score or a high school transcript. Class A and B felons or those with more than ten years remaining on their sentence are not eligible. Inmates with an STG affiliation status level of 1 through 3 cannot take on-site courses.

How to Enroll

Interested individuals should contact their case manager or the educational coordinator at their facility to confirm they qualify for the Correctional Education Program and to obtain an Outreach Program registration form.

Course Types

Self-Paced Correspondence

Eligible individuals can take for-credit correspondence courses through the mail. Students have nine months to complete the course.

On-Site Classroom

On-site classroom courses for college credit are currently offered at seven North Carolina correctional facilities throughout the year.

Transferring Credits

Correctional Education Program courses are UNC-Chapel Hill courses taught by UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and are generally transferable to other colleges, universities, and community colleges that offer equivalent courses, provided the students earns a C or better. Submit your transcript to the school you are applying to for consideration.

Advising

We offer academic advising to incarcerated individuals and their advocates, providing assistance in course selection and degree path.
To schedule an advising meeting contact Dr. Melissa J. Solomon, Senior Academic Advisor at 919-445-4706, mjsolomo@unc.edu.

“I am grateful for what UNC is doing for inmates… I am grateful to be a part of this program.”

– Program Participant, 2023