Man earns college degree in prison, will go to law school after being accepted to a prestigious university

In November 2023, the Northwestern Prison Education Program graduated its first cohort of students, and one of its graduates is going to a law school.

Since Benard McKinley got out of prison in December 2023, he has been busy getting ready for some big things, a historic achievement.

The 39-year-old has been working, hanging out with friends and family, and getting prepared for his first year at the famous Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago.

“Just months ago, I was still behind prison bars, and not knowing exactly how the future of going to law school would turn out. So to be home and know I’m going to law school … is an amazing feeling,” Benard told The Guardian.

Benard, who spent over two decades in prison, has become the first person from Northwestern University’s Prison Education Program (NPEP) to be accepted into any law school.

He achieved this milestone despite Northwestern’s low 4% acceptance rate.

NPEP provides bachelor’s degrees to incarcerated individuals, a rarity in the US.

Despite his time in prison, Benard completed his bachelor’s degree and applied to law school at the Stateville Correctional Center in northern Illinois.

Benard and his classmates were among the initial participants in NPEP, with a total of four groups, each comprising 20 incarcerated students.

Northwestern University has verified that McKinley’s graduating class marks the first instance of incarcerated students earning bachelor’s degrees from a top 10 US university, as per US News & World Report rankings.

Benard shared his lifelong aspiration of attending college, which was interrupted when he received a criminal sentence during his teenage years.

“I was already passionate about trying to go to college; I just didn’t know how or when that would happen,” he said.

Benard was sentenced to nearly 100 years in prison at 19 for a gang-related murder.

In November 2023, the Northwestern Prison Education Program graduated its first group of students, and one of its graduates is going to law school.

He seized the rare opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree while in prison after being successfully admitted to the highly competitive NPEP program, where only 40 out of 400 applicants were accepted in 2023.

Benard faced demanding academic requirements at Northwestern University, where he engaged in rigorous studies despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His coursework spanned diverse subjects such as political science and thermodynamics.

Finally, after earning his GED in prison, he represented himself without a lawyer.

Bernard successfully reduced his sentence from 100 years to 25 while representing himself in court, serving the entire term.

He also aided those lacking access to legal assistance.

“I was giving back and contributing to those who were in need of help — you know, in spite of them being incarcerated with me, they were still human beings,” McKinley said.

Reflecting on his time in the NPEP program, Benard found it to be a transformative experience, leading him to reassess his identity, goals, and understanding of societal issues like systemic racism.

Despite being incarcerated, he initiated the law school application process last year, which included taking the LSAT exam, writing essays, and obtaining recommendation letters.

Bernard wrote about his journey from being incarcerated at 19 to earning a degree from a prestigious university in his application essay.

NPEP tutors typed his handwritten essays and wrote letters to support his law school application.

“He’s just an exceptional student on so many levels. He’s rigorous, disciplined, eager to learn, passionate about self-growth,” said Northwestern Pritzker School of Law professor Sheila Bedi.

She also mentioned that other Northwestern law students were excited about Bernard becoming part of the community.

She expressed a desire for more programs similar to NPEP.

The professor suggested that many individuals like Bernard could make positive impacts in their communities if provided the opportunity.

Bernard aims to become a civil rights lawyer and set up a legal aid clinic to assist marginalized groups.

Being the first in his family to attend college and law school, Bernard feels proud of his accomplishment but also acknowledges the responsibility it entails.

“It feels amazing. I’m definitely a positive role model for the future generation and my family. So you know, I have a job to do,” he said.

Watch Bernard McKinley’s interview with ABC News below: