WASHINGTON, D.C. – Peace Corps announced last week that Bucknell University ranked No. 6 among small schools on the agency’s list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities in 2019. There are 13 Bucknell alumni currently volunteering in countries around the world.
This is the second consecutive year that Bucknell has ranked among the top 15 small schools. In 2018, the University ranked No. 13.
“We have seen time and again that the colleges and universities that produce the most Peace Corps volunteers focus on cultivating global citizens in addition to promoting scholarship,” said Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen. “I am proud that so many graduates of these esteemed institutions leverage their educations to make the world a better place. They bring critical skills to communities around the world and gain hands-on, life-changing experience along the way.”
Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, over 295 alumni from Bucknell University have served abroad as volunteers. In 2018, Pennsylvania ranked No. 7 among states with the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers, and 8,670 Pennsylvanians have served since 1961.
“Bucknell University fosters an environment that encourages exploration and curiosity about the world around us,” said Bucknell alumna Roberta Blaho ’17 (center of photo with two neighborhood girls and her host nephew). “Not only are students shown many study abroad opportunities, they are also encouraged to go on service-learning trips that further motivate students to both see the world and help people.”
The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. Below, find the top five schools in each category and the number of alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers. View the complete 2019 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category here and find an interactive map that shows where alumni from each college and university are serving here.
Large Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
More than 15,000 Undergraduates
1. University of Wisconsin-Madison – 75
2. University of Virginia – 74
3. University of Minnesota – 70
4. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor – 63
5. Ohio State University – Columbus – 62
5. University of Washington – 62
5. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill – 62
Medium Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
Between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates
1. George Washington University – 54
2. American University – 51
3. Tulane University – 44
4. College of William and Mary – 40
5. Western Washington University – 32
Small Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
Fewer than 5,000 undergraduates
1. St. Lawrence University – 20
2. Macalester College – 19
3. Hobart and William Smith Colleges – 16
4. University of Redlands – 15
5. Pacific Lutheran University – 14
Graduate Schools – Total Volunteers:
1. Tulane University – 20
2. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor – 18
3. University of South Florida – 16
4. American University –15
4. University of Denver – 15
6. George Washington University – 14
6. New York University – 14
Historical, Since 1961 – Total Volunteers:
1. University of California – Berkeley – 3,685
2. University of Wisconsin – Madison – 3,299
3. University of Washington – 3,041
4. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor – 2,734
5. University of Colorado – Boulder – 2,512
*Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2018 data as of September 30, 2018, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.
About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 235,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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CONTACTS: Dan Ingala, 908-342-1903, dingala@peacecorps.gov; Mike Ferlazzo, 570-577-3212, 570-238-6266 (c), mike.ferlazzo@bucknell.edu