There is limited funding and only a certain amount of openings for prisoners looking to take college courses. It is essential that applicants have high school diplomas or GEDs in order to qualify. Prisoners can study for and earn GEDs while incarcerated.
All applicants are required to take an entrance exam before getting approved to attend college courses while in prison. Prisoners shouldn't be discouraged, as there are volunteers to help applicants practice for the exam to increase their chances of passing.
There are mentors who volunteer to help encourage prisoners to reach their goals through college. They offer advice and make suggestions to prisoners looking to find the right career paths or choose the right college courses. Many prisoners may not know where to start and these mentors can give them that extra bit of encouragement they need to get started.
Some prisons allow inmates to take classes online through a local community college and some allow them to mail in their work for credits. The choice of how inmates take the actual courses depends on their level of incarceration and the individual facility.