Why you should consider this program

The University of Arizona (UA) offers a welcoming Peace Corps community, opportunities for service, and competitive financial support. UA is a top ranked Research 1, Land Grant institution with outstanding faculty and strong international connections. Our program currently has partnerships with 48 academic programs to provide Coverdell Fellowships. For the full list of Coverdell partner programs at the University of Arizona, visit https://grad.arizona.edu/peacecorps/applicants/academic-programs

Southern Arizona’s diversity and proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border provide meaningful service opportunities, and Tucson is an incredibly active, affordable, and friendly community. With over 30 current Peace Corps Fellows, 150 community-based and university partner agencies, and top-ranked masters and doctoral programs across 11 colleges, there is a built-in network of peer, community, and academic support ready for Fellows.

Benefits for Coverdell Fellows

	Tuition/fees for Complete Program	Value of Coverdell Fellowship	Net cost *
In state	$ 34,925	$ 33,188	$ 1,737
Out of state	$ 75,180	$ 73,440	$ 1,740

* Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing—see the first point below for more details.

Where the cost savings value of the Coverdell Fellowship comes from

All Fellows are charged at the in-state tuition rate, which covers 50% in-state tuition. Program fees are not included in the tuition reduction. For program-specific fees, please use the Tuition Calculator: https://tuitioncalculator.fso.arizona.edu/.

• .25 FTE Outreach Assistantship stipend of $10,750 per academic year
• 100% of student health insurance fees covered
• Additional benefits not included in the calculations above include potential for $3,000 in Federal work funding (need-based)
• 10% discount at the UA bookstore

Fellowships awarded per year (average)

25

Other benefits or opportunities

Students may hold another .25 FTE research or teaching assistantship in addition to their Outreach Assistantship.

Resources to assist Fellows in applying for extramural funding such as Fulbright, Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS), and National Science Foundation (NSF) awards are available, and recently, our Fellows have received 1-3 of these prestigious scholarships per year. Professional development, service projects, and social activities are also offered for Fellows.

Annual cost of living (estimated)

$ 22,280

Application fee waived?

No

Internship

Through the .25 FTE Outreach Assistantship, Fellows serve an average of 10 hours a week during each academic year to meet the Coverdell requirement of support to an underserved community. Our office coordinates connections and placements at local organizations for all Fellows. Our network of potential partner sites includes 150+ agencies working on refugee support, healthcare, nutrition, education, literacy, environmental sustainability, youth development, and more. Recent partners include:

• American Red Cross
• City of Tucson
• El Rio Community Health Center
• Iskashitaa Refugee Network
• Literacy Connects
• Lutheran Family Services of Southern Arizona
• Pima County Department of Health
• Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW), University of Arizona
• Tohono O'Odham Nation San Xavier District Planning
• Tucson United School District
• U.S. National Park Service
• United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona

A full list of our past and current partners can be found here: https://grad.arizona.edu/peacecorps/outreach-assistantship/community-partners

Jobs for program alumni

UA Fellows alumni land jobs in every sector, all over the world, including:

• Catholic Relief Services
• Centers for Disease Control
• Intel
• International Rescue Committee
• Millennium Challenge Corporation
• Oxfam
• RAND Corporation
• U.S. State Department
• USAID

Research scientists, planners, consultants, professors, Fulbright scholars – our alumni truly exemplify a range of professional achievements. Learn more about their paths at https://grad.arizona.edu/peacecorps/people/alumni

Other details

Program length

2 years, average

Application requirements

Coverdell applicants are required to submit two applications: one to the Coverdell Fellows office and one to their intended academic department.

• Coverdell application: Available on our website and generally opens up for new applicants in November. It requires information about academic background, Peace Corps service, DOS report, and three essays. First round applications are due in January and final round in March. More information here: https://grad.arizona.edu/peacecorps/applicants
• Academic application: Departmental requirements and deadlines vary and are listed on departmental websites. Requirements generally include GRE scores, statement of purpose, writing sample, two letters of recommendation, and the online Graduate College application. The public health and business programs use different applications.

Admissions process

Submit both an academic application and a Coverdell Fellow application online by their respective deadlines. Coverdell applications are reviewed, ranked, and coordinated with the academic program. Notifications for first round submissions begin in March and continue until the cohort is filled, usually by early May.

Applicants may note that they are Returned Peace Corps Volunteers on UA and departmental applications but must submit a Coverdell Fellowship application to be considered for the award. Please notify your academic department that you have applied for the Coverdell Fellowship.

Program begins

Mid-August

Year Coverdell Fellows partnership started

2001

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Contact

Rose Christine Rojas, Program Coordinator