There should be no barriers to education. This principle is what led the Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP) to help 16 individuals behind bars in Stateville Correctional Center to obtain their bachelor’s degree. CNBC reports that the NPEP was established in 2018 to create a better future for incarcerated students in prisons, jails, and youth centers in Illinois. According to its website, participants can engage in four educational programs, including four-to-six-week college-ready courses as well as full bachelor’s degree paths.