U.S. Federal Prison Education Program (PEP)
What is the history of Pell for students who are incarcerated?
Students who are incarcerated in the United States and want to pursue higher education previously accessed Pell grants, similar to other students who are impoverished. But in the mid-nineties, this access to Pell was removed for students who are incarcerated.
It was not until 2015 that the federal government reinstated access to Pell funding for students who are incarcerated. This was done in two phases. In 2015, the experimental Second Chance Program invited universities to apply and, once approved, for their students to access Pell. Then, in 2020, the FAFSA Simplification Act reopened Pell to incarcerated students. In this new iteration, which launched in 2023, students can access Pell for an approved Prison Education Program (PEP).
To be part of the federal Prison Education Program, a university must apply. One key aspect of the application is the demonstration of Best Interest, or the idea that the university has the students' best interest in mind and that is the driving force of the program.
What does a PEP application look like in practice?
SDSU's VISTA program was initiated in 2020 and the first cohort enrolled in 2023. SDSU applied and was accepted to the final cohort of the Second Chance Pell. The following year, SDSU was one of the first dozen universities in the country to be accepted as a PEP. SDSU-VISTA underwent the WASC accreditation for PEP in summer 2025, including a visit to the campus at Centinela State Prison by a WASC team member. Additional steps include a visit to the prison campus by the state prison board and the completion of a Best Interest Determination form. This process confirms that a university is meeting requirements.
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