Peace Corps announces 2020 top volunteer-producing schools

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                        Peace Corps announces 2020 top volunteer-producing schools

WASHINGTON – Peace Corps announced today its 2020 ranking of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities. The schools are classed in large, medium or small categories, as well as a graduate school and an all-time category, which ranks the top Peace Corps volunteer-producing schools since 1961, the year of the agency’s inception.

“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.”

In the large school category, the University of Wisconsin–Madison continues to hold the No. 1 spot. After placing ninth in 2019, the University of Florida is now in second place; the school sent 70 alumni to Peace Corps service, 14 more than the previous year. At No. 4, the University of Maryland also rose in the ranks with 66 alums joining the Peace Corps, an increase of 11.

Large Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
More than 15,000 Undergraduates

1) University of Wisconsin-Madison – 79
2) University of Florida – 70
3) University of Virginia – 68
4) University of Maryland – College Park – 68
5) University of Georgia -64

For schools with between 15,000 and 5,000 undergraduates, George Washington University (GW) held the No. 1 spot with 62 alumni sent to Peace Corps service. GW has held the No. 1 spot in this category since 2018. American University is in second place for the third year in a row.

Medium Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:

Between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates

1) George Washington University – 62
2) American University – 48
3) College of William and Mary – 46
4) University of Vermont – 45
5) Tulane University – 34

St. Lawrence University sent 19 former students to the Peace Corps, earning first place in the small schools category. Dartmouth has risen from No. 6 on the list last year to No. 2 in 2020.

Small Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:

Fewer than 5,000 undergraduates

1) St. Lawrence University – 19
2) Dartmouth College – 15
3) Eckerd College – 14
4) Bucknell University – 13 (tied)
4) Allegheny – 13 (tied)
4) Whitman College – 13 (tied)

Though ranked No. 6 last year, GW now holds first place on the graduate schools list. Four schools are tied for the No. 2 spot: NYU, Tulane, University of South Florida and University of Washington, which did not place on the list in 2019.

Graduate Schools – Total Volunteers:

All categories

1) George Washington University – 14
2) New York University – 11 (tied)
2) Tulane University – 11 (tied)
2) University of South Florida – 11 (tied)
2) University of Washington – 11 (tied)

Historically, the University of California – Berkeley has sent the most alumni to Peace Corps service: 3,741.

All Time Since 1961

All categories

1) University of California – Berkeley – 3,741
2) University of Wisconsin – Madison – 3,369
3) University of Washington -3,101
4) University of Michigan – Ann Arbor – 2,775
5) University of Colorado – Boulder – 2,556

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. View the complete 2020 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category here.

*Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2019 data as of September 30, 2019, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.