Infographic: Prison Spending vs. Education Spending in the US

October 26, 2011United Statesby EW News Desk Team


It costs the state of New Jersey more money to incarcerate just one inmate in prison for a year than to fund one Princeton's student tuition fees during the same period in college. Across the US, there has been a disturbing rising trend whereby more and more money is being spent on the prison system as compared to education spending. The US also has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with nearly 25 percent of the world's prisoners being found in the country.

Is the level of prison spending really necessary or can the funds be better diverted to other more important avenues such as education? Check out this infographic that highlights the difference in spending between the prison and education system in the US, as well as a comparison between the US prison system and those of the rest of the world.

Prison vs Princeton
Created by: Public Administration

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