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Western Nevada College (WNC) has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to offer Pell Grants, a form of federal financial aid, to incarcerated students under the regulations approved in July 2023. WNC is the first college in the state to receive approval under these new federal regulations.

鈥淲NC鈥檚 prison education program has been very active over the past decade reaching incarcerated students to reduce recidivism and their ability to find meaningful employment after release," said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe.

Officials from the Nevada Department of Corrections expressed optimism about the impact Pell Grant funding will have on incarcerated students.

鈥淭his is a big deal,鈥� said James Dzurenda, Director of the Nevada Department of Corrections. 鈥淪tudies show that the top indicator of reduced recidivism is an education. Education provides individuals with the skills and knowledge for meaningful employment upon release, which helps to break cycles of poverty and incarceration. Investing in education for incarcerated individuals is a proven strategy for building safer, more stable and more equitable communities.鈥�

WNC is a pioneer in Nevada in providing education to incarcerated individuals, and this latest milestone further strengthens its role in fostering second chances through higher education. The college will continue working closely with correctional institutions, community organizations and stakeholders to ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed.

For nearly a decade, WNC has been a leader in Nevada in offering higher education opportunities to incarcerated individuals with a robust curriculum in a variety of subject areas. With this new federal approval, WNC can now offer Pell Grant funding to eligible incarcerated students at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center 鈥� regardless of sentence length, conviction or age 鈥� further strengthening its commitment to second chances through education.

鈥淥ur students are excited for this opportunity,鈥� said Deb Conrad, the program director for WNC鈥檚 Higher Education in Prison Program. 鈥淭hey have hopes and dreams for the future and a college education can help get them there. Our hope is that Pell will make this more possible for more students.鈥�

Previously, Great Basin College received approval as a Second Chance Pell Experimental site, a program that paved the way for the reinstatement of overall Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students.

For more information about Western Nevada College鈥檚 programs for incarcerated students, visit or contact Deb Conrad, Prison Education Program Director, at 775-445-3302 or deb.conrad@wnc.edu.