Breaking Barriers: Mount Tamalpais College Provides College Access to San Quentin Rehabilitation Center – Transforming Higher Education Behind Prison Walls

Every person deserves the opportunity to grow, contribute to society, and better oneself through education. For many incarcerated individuals, that opportunity feels like an impossibility. Mount Tamalpais College (MTC), located within San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, stands as a beacon of educational quality and innovation, making dreams of college a reality for hundreds of incarcerated students. Founded in 1996 in the wake of federal restrictions on financial aid for incarcerated students, MTC (formerly known as the Prison University Project) evolved from a program affiliated with Patten University into the first independent liberal arts institution dedicated exclusively to serving incarcerated learners.

In January 2022, MTC achieved Initial Accreditation from ACCJC, marking a pivotal milestone in its journey toward institutional independence and excellence.

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