In the current economic climate it is more crucial than ever to select federal spending projects that are visionary as well as cost-effective. Saving money today may well cost money tomorrow. Such is the case with correctional education postsecondary programming. Selling vocational or trade-training for offenders to the general public is much easier than the liberal arts academic degree track. However, the benefits of such academic programming are well-documented. States continue to seek effective programming. Simultaneously, federal funding for postsecondary education in prisons (Community and Transition Training for Incarcerated Individuals Program) was cut 100% for FY 2012. As states consider postsecondary providers and as correctional education leaders and policy makers begin to re-frame postsecondary funding for prisons, this presents an ideal time for outlining steps to establishing these academic programs. This practical guide emanates from three years of conducting and observing research and implementation of such programming.