FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

PEACE CORPS ANNOUNCES LIST OF HISTORICALLY TOP VOLUNTEER-PRODUCING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

The Top 25 Schools Have Produced Nearly 50,000 Peace Corps Volunteers Serving Boldly in 143 Countries Around the World

(WASHINGTON, D.C. | Tuesday, May 23, 2023) – The Peace Corps announced today its ranking of the top 25 Peace Corps volunteer-producing colleges and universities since President Kennedy established the agency in 1961. Alumni from these schools are among the more than 240,000 Volunteers who have answered the call to serve in 143 countries worldwide.

“Demand for Peace Corps Volunteers is high given setbacks in development progress following the COVID-19 pandemic” said Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. “Peace Corps service is the beginning of a lifetime of global connection and purpose for those bold enough to accept the invitation.”

The Peace Corps has long maintained strong relationships with universities nationwide to recruit future Volunteers. The top 25 list includes eight schools that have a Peace Corps Prep program, which is a collaboration between the agency and colleges and universities to provide enrolled students the opportunity to build four key competencies: sector specific skills, foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence, and professional leadership. Students who complete the program earn a certificate and a competitive edge when applying for Peace Corps service.

Colleges and Universities – Total Volunteers:

1. University of California – Berkeley - 3,763
2. University of Wisconsin – Madison - 3,402
3. University of Washington – 3,132
4. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor - 2,803
5. University of Colorado – Boulder - 2,589
6. Michigan State University – 2,470
7. University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign – 2,124
8. University of California – Los Angeles - 2,078
9. University of Texas – Austin - 1,922
10. Ohio State University – Columbus - 1,898
11. Colorado State University – Ft. Collins - 1,778
12. Indiana University – Bloomington - 1,762
13. University of California – Santa Barbara - 1,738
14. Cornell University- 1,727
15. University of Arizona – 1,724
16. University of Minnesota – 1,674
17. University of California – Davis - 1,570
18. Boston University – 1,536
19. University of Florida – 1,486
20. San Francisco State University – 1,435
21. Stanford University – 1,409
22. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill – 1,403
23. University of Oregon – 1,389
24. Oregon State University – 1,388
25. George Washington University – 1,369

Currently, the Peace Corps has over 1,400 volunteers serving in 53 countries at the invitation of host country governments, and the agency is committed to recruiting and deploying more than 5,000 Volunteers over the next year. The Peace Corps launched the Bold Invitation initiative in March 2023 to welcome qualified U.S. citizens to join the agency and put their purpose, passion, and skills to work in partnership with welcoming host communities. Through the Peace Corps global network, Volunteers can serve boldly and address some of today’s most pressing issues. For more information about how to join the Peace Corps and serve boldly, visit www.peacecorps.gov/bold.

Apply before July 1 to make a global connection by the end of 2023.

Note: Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year data, as self-reported by Peace Corps Volunteers.

Note: *Release corrected on Friday, June 2, 2023*

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