Norco College celebrated the graduation of 36 Rising Scholar graduates from the California Rehabilitation Center. The Rising Scholars Program at Norco College began in 2017 and has served 1,277 incarcerated students while graduating nearly 200 students. The program's inception can be attributed to Proposition 57, a legislative measure that enabled incarcerated individuals to engage in a path toward their eventual release. Obtaining a college degree could translate into a six-month sentence reduction.

In all, 85 out of 116 community colleges in California are members of the Rising Scholars Network. State prison facilities have community college partnerships, but only eight of these carceral facilities have bachelor's degree partnerships. Through a partnership with Pitzer College, Norco College is one of the eight. This unique opportunity allows students to continue their education. In 2024, three Norco College alumni at the California Rehabilitation Center obtained a bachelor's degree from Pitzer College.