Illustration: Gabriella Trujillo for NPR

The University of California system, the largest in the nation, is part of a growing number of schools to make tuition free for Native students. 

These programs aim to support Native students, who had the highest dropout rates out of any ethnic group in the country during the pandemic. That's where tuition waivers come in—they can help break down barriers.

In most states, the majority of prisons do not have higher education programs, especially ones that lead to college degrees. Incarcerated people in less than a third of state and federal prisons have access to postsecondary education. 

Some states explicitly ban people with long sentences from participating in higher education—or don’t offer any degree programs. Others prioritize enrollment based on time to release. 

Crucial elements in building a sustainable cybersecurity workforce are education, experience, and the amount of time it takes to train workers. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, a partnership between the academic and private sectors is testing a plan to address all three.

East Tennessee State University and health insurer BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee have teamed up to put students through an intensive program of classroom learning and practical experience in cybersecurity. The college and the company aim to create a pipeline of graduates who are fully trained and ready to enter the workforce.