Tufts University Among Peace Corps’ Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges & Universities in 2014

The Peace Corps today released the 2014 rankings of the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities across the country. This year, Tufts University ranked No. 9 among medium schools, with 24 undergraduate alumni currently volunteering worldwide.  In 2013, Tufts ranked No. 15.

Tufts alumni are currently serving as volunteers in Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Senegal and Swaziland. They work in areas including education, environment, health, community economic development and youth development.

“The same passion that launched the Peace Corps more than 50 years ago fuels progress in developing countries today thanks to the leadership and creativity that college graduates bring to their Peace Corps service,” Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “The unique Peace Corps experience helps recent graduates cultivate highly sought-after skills that will launch their careers in today’s global economy.” 

Since the first days of the Peace Corps, 541 Tufts alumni from have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers.

“Tufts is exceptionally internationally focused. Many of my classes included international case studies, some from Africa,” said Eric Wilburn, a Tufts alumnus who is currently serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique. “Within my community, I have constructed a library at a local primary school and am starting a reading tutoring program using my secondary school students as volunteers to work with the primary school students.”

Tufts alumna Hyomi Carty is also serving in Africa. “Being in Swaziland has really made me think twice about certain things and offered me perspective I never would have had if I hadn't immersed myself in a different culture.”

Other Boston area schools ranked as Peace Corps’ 2014 Top Colleges, including Boston University, which was No. 25 among large schools; Boston College, which was No. 8 among medium schools; and Brandeis University, which ranked No. 14 among small schools nationwide. Also, in 2013, the greater Boston metropolitan area ranked No. 7 nationwide for the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers; 170 currently-serving volunteers were from the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy area. 

Service in the Peace Corps is a life-defining, hands-on leadership experience that offers volunteers the opportunity to travel to the farthest corners of the world and make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Peace Corps volunteers live and work at the community level and promote a better understanding between Americans and the people they serve, while at the same time becoming global citizens.

When they return home, volunteers bring knowledge and experiences that give them a competitive edge for 21st century jobs and advanced educational opportunities. They give back to their own communities and enrich the lives of those around them, helping to strengthen international ties and increase our country’s global competitiveness.

The Peace Corps has eight regional recruitment offices across the United States that work closely with prospective volunteers to ensure that all Americans who want to serve have the opportunity to do so. The Northeast regional recruitment office serves Tufts University, and Peace Corps recruiters are based throughout the region. Find the recruitment office near you by visiting the Peace Corps website here.

The Peace Corps ranks the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. Below find the top five colleges and universities in each category and the number of alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers.

Large Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:

More than 15,000 undergraduates

1.            University of Wisconsin-Madison            90

2.            University of Washington                            85

2.            University of Florida                                      85

4.            The Ohio State University                            83

5.            University of Michigan                                  81

Medium Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:

Between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates

1.            Western Washington University               65

2.            University of Virginia                                     44

3.            American University                                      43

4.            The George Washington University         41

5.            Cornell University                                           29

5.            The University of Vermont                          29

Small Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:

Less than 5,000 undergraduates

1.            Gonzaga University                                         22

2.            SUNY College of Environmental Science

and Forestry                                                      17

3.            Carleton College                                              16

3.            Macalester College                                         16

3.            Pacific Lutheran University                         16

Graduate Schools – Total Volunteers:

1.            University of Denver                                      23

2.            University of Washington                            20

2.            Tulane University                                            20

4.            University of Florida                                      17

5.            University of Pittsburgh                               13

5.            University of Minnesota Twin Cities       13

5.            University of South Florida                         13

5.            The University of Texas at Austin             13

Historical, Since 1961 – Total Volunteers:

1.            University of California, Berkeley            3,576

2.            University of Wisconsin-Madison            3,112

3.            University of Washington                            2,840

4.            University of Michigan                                  2,556

5.            University of Colorado Boulder                                 2,385

*Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2013 data as of September 30, 2013, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.

Find the complete 2014 rankings of the top 25 schools in each undergraduate category here. To view the Peace Corps’ 2014 Top Colleges infographic, visit http://files.peacecorps.gov/images/news/releases/TC2014Infographic.pdf.

A list of the 2013 Top Colleges and Universities can be found here.

About the Peace Corps: As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Peace Corps volunteers work at the grassroots level with local governments, schools, communities, small businesses and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. When they return home, volunteers bring their knowledge and experiences – and a global outlook – back to the United States that enriches the lives of those around them. President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 to foster a better understanding among Americans and people of other countries. Since then, more than 215,000 Americans of all ages have served in 139 countries worldwide. Visit www.peacecorps.gov to learn more.

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