We provide free correspondence courses that connect incarcerated people with a community beyond prison walls, fostering mutual respect through a shared passion for learning. Inmates participating in correctional education programs are 28% less likely to recidivate (Source).
College Guild has impacted the lives of thousands of incarcerated people.
Since 2001, we’ve offered free correspondence courses by mail for inmates across America.
What makes College Guild unique?
We serve all incarcerated people, regardless of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, prison, crime, or sentence.
By remaining non-accredited, we can serve students without a GED as well as those on death row, serving a life sentence, or in solitary confinement.
We are not affiliated with any religious or political group, and regularly evaluate our program to ensure representation and prevent biases.
Students complete courses covering a broad range of interests, including science and health, history and art, writing, and culture and society.
Multipart courses help students develop their interests and relieve the boredom of prison life.
Students work at their own pace, submitting assignments and receiving personalized responses by mail.
A legion of volunteer readers provides personalized responses to every assignment submitted.
For some students, College Guild readers are the only contact they have beyond the prison walls.
We maintain high standards for prompt, thought-provoking, and respectful responses. All communications pass through College Guild staff to ensure anonymity and protect the identities of students and volunteers.
* Students provide a pencil and paper, and an outgoing stamp (we are unable to send stamps due to restrictions at many prisons).
We have served over 7,000 students in prisons across the U.S. since our founding in 2001. Each point on this map indicates that we’ve connected with at least one student in that location.
We would not be able to achieve our mission without the support of our volunteer readers. Each point on this map indicates where volunteer readers offer their support to College Guild.
We are grateful for the ongoing support of our partners and sponsors, which allows us to continue providing these valuable educational opportunities. Their contributions help us make a significant difference in the lives of incarcerated individuals.
