President John Kennedy shaking the hand of a Peace Corp volunteer, during a White House ceremony … [+]
The Peace Corps has just announced its 2020 rankings of the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities. The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. The complete 2020 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category can be viewed here. Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2019 data as of September 30, 2019, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.
Colleges are classified into three categories: large, medium or small. There also are additional rankings for graduate schools as well as an all-time category, which ranks the top Peace Corps volunteer-producing schools since 1961, the year the agency began.
“These schools are institutions that emphasize being global citizens and service-minded students,” said Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen. “I am excited to know the graduates coming from Peace Corps’ top colleges are using their skills to make a positive impact on their communities at home and abroad.”
Large Schools (More than 15,000 undergraduates)
The University of Wisconsin–Madison continues to hold the first spot, with 79 students volunteering for service. The University of Florida was in second place, with 70 alumni sent to Peace Corps service. The University of Virginia was third, with 68 volunteers. At No. 4, was the University of Maryland, with 66 alums joining the Peace Corps. Rounding out the top five in the large-school category was the University of Georgia with 64 volunteers.
Medium Colleges & Universities (Between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates)
George Washington University led the way with 62 volunteers in service. It was followed by American University with 48 volunteers, the College of William and Mary with 46, and the University of Vermont with 45. Tulane University completed the top five schools in this category with 34 volunteers.
Small Colleges & Universities (Less than 5,000 undergraduates)
St. Lawrence University claimed first place in this category, sending 19 former students to the Peace Corps. Dartmouth, with 15 volunteers was second. Eckerd College had 14 volunteers, placing it third. Bucknell University tied with Allegheny College and Whitman College for fourth place, each one with 13 alumni volunteers.
Graduate Schools
George Washington University placed first among graduate schools, with 14 volunteers. Four schools tied for the second spot: New York University, Tulane, University of South Florida and University of Washington, each with 11 alumni volunteers.
All Time Rankings Since 1961
In first place for sending the most alumni to the Peace Corps since 1961 was the University of California – Berkeley with 3,741 volunteers. The University of Wisconsin-Madison was second with 3,369. In third was the University of Washington with 3,101. The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor claimed fourth place with 2,775 total volunteers. And the University of Colorado – Boulder completed the top five all-time schools with 2,556 Peace Corp alumni.
National service is often championed as a way to reduce the country’s increasing polarization and encourage a deeper commitment to the shared responsibilities of citizenship. Congress continues to introduce legislation in support of national service. One bill would, for example, establish a National and Community Service Administration to oversee and expand national and volunteer programs. Presidential candidates, military leaders, and business executives all have endorsed an expectation, if not a requirement, for national public service.
Colleges and universities can play an important role in encouraging greater levels of national service by their students. Whether through promoting Reserve Officers’ Traning Programs (ROTC), partnering with the Peace Corps to increase the number of students volunteering for service abroad, using work-study funds to underwrite community service projects, encouraging students to vote, or matching the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, a benefit for individuals who complete an approved term of national service in AmeriCorps, higher education could be a catalyst for growing a culture of citizen service.
