San Quentin College Program

The College Program at San Quentin is the central project of the Prison University Project. It provides approximately 12 college courses each semester in the humanities, social sciences, math and science, as well as intensive college preparatory courses in math and English, to approximately 200 men at San Quentin. All faculty in the Program work as volunteers.

The College Program at San Quentin is an extension site of Patten University, an accredited independent university in Oakland, California. Because no state or federal funding is available for prison higher education in California, the Program is supported entirely by the Prison University Project through donations from individuals and foundations. Students in the Program pay no fees or tuition. All textbooks and school supplies are provided by the Prison University Project; the bulk of all textbooks are donated by the publishers.

College classes at San Quentin run in the evening; all meet at least two nights per week. During the day all students hold full-time jobs inside the prison, for which they earn approximately $25/month. On average, students take two classes per semester. At this rate, most students take approximately 3½ years to complete the Associate of Arts degree. While 68 men have so far completed their A.A. at San Quentin, many more have paroled before completion and now continue their studies on the outside.