Prison vs. College: The Map That’s Making Americans Think Twice About Their State’s Priorities

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Want to see something that might change how you think about education and incarceration in America? According to recent research by Studee, nearly 75% of US states have more prisons than colleges. Yeah, you read that right.

This isn’t just about buildings – it’s about priorities. The Prison Policy Initiative reports that the US has the highest incarceration rate globally. Meanwhile, data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows concerning trends in college enrollment. Let me share some numbers that really jumped out at me:

Wyoming takes the cake, but not in a good way. With just 4 colleges compared to 28 prisons, it has a mind-boggling 600% more prisons than colleges. That’s the biggest gap in the country.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: there’s a clear pattern between education and incarceration rates. The more people with college degrees in a state, the lower its incarceration rate tends to be. Let’s look at two extremes:

• Massachusetts: Tops the charts with 42,811 people with degrees per 100,000 population. They’ve got 87 colleges and only 35 prisons.
• Louisiana: Has the highest incarceration rate (680 per 100,000 people) and 300% more prisons than colleges.

Studee’s analysis found a strong correlation between education levels and incarceration rates. States with more college graduates consistently show lower incarceration rates (correlation coefficient of 0.68). Research from the Brookings Institution confirmes that access to education significantly reduces the likelihood of returning to prison.

Some other eye-openers from Studee’s analysis:

• Texas leads with the most prisons overall: 313 facilities compared to 149 colleges
• California shows a different path with 280 colleges outpacing its 147 prisons
• Arizona stands alone with perfect balance: exactly 36 of each

The regional patterns tell an interesting story too. Most Northeastern states have more colleges than prisons, while Southern states show the opposite trend. These aren’t just random numbers – they reflect decades of policy choices and priorities.

What do you think about your state’s numbers? Do they surprise you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments – especially if you’ve seen how this plays out in your community.