UNC in Top Five Again in Peace Corps Volunteers

Posted on April 3, 2019

Carolina, often near the top of schools with alumni in the Peace Corps, remains in the top five nationally in the latest annual report from the volunteer program.

UNC is now tied for fifth with Ohio State University and the University of Washington — each with 62 current volunteers. UNC ranked fourth last year with 70 volunteers. The rankings are based on self-reporting by volunteers.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison tops this year’s list for large schools, with 75 volunteers. The University of Virginia has risen to No. 2 from No. 15 in just two years. The universities of Minnesota and Michigan are third and fourth.

“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.”

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 help develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. 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.

Carolina’s annual numbers going back to 2011 are:

• 2017: No. 7 with 51 volunteers;
• 2016: No. 12 with 39 volunteers;
• 2015: Tied for No. 15 with 39 volunteers;
• 2014: Tied for No. 25 with 35 volunteers;
• 2013: Tied for No. 14 with 62 volunteers;
• 2012: No. 8 with 87 volunteers; and
• 2011: Tied for No. 3 with 94 volunteers.

Carolina has sent 1,347 alumni to the corps since 1961.

The complete 2019 rankings are online  and include an interactive map showing distribution of volunteers throughout the world.

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