Eckerd College among Peace Corps’ 2020 top volunteer-producing schools

There are 14 Tritons currently volunteering in countries around the world.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Eckerd College has ranked among the top 25 small schools. Eckerd College made a big jump in the rankings from No. 9, in 2019, to No. 3, in 2020.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Florida has ranked among the top 10 volunteer producing states.

“These schools are institutions that emphasize being global citizens and service-minded students,” said Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen. “I am excited to know the graduates coming from Peace Corps’ Top Colleges are using their skills to make a positive impact on their communities at home and abroad.”

Since the agency’s founding in 1961, 180 alumni from Eckerd College have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers. Additionally, the state of Florida ranks No. 5 among states with the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers. There are 341 volunteers from the Sunshine State currently serving worldwide and over 8,585 Floridians have served in the Peace Corps since the agency’s founding in 1961.

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.

Large Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers

More than 15,000 Undergraduates

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison – 79
2. University of Florida – 70
3. University of Virginia – 68
4. University of Maryland – College Park – 66
5. University of Georgia – 64

Medium Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers

Between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates

1. George Washington University – 62
2. American University – 48
3. College of William and Mary – 46
4. University of Vermont – 45
5. Tulane University – 34

Small Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers

Fewer than 5,000 undergraduates

1. St. Lawrence University – 19
2. Dartmouth College – 15
3. Eckerd College – 14
4. Bucknell University – 13 (tied)
5. Allegheny – 13 (tied)
6. Whitman College–13 (tied)

Graduate Schools – Total Volunteers

1. George Washington University – 14
2. New York University – 11 (tied)
3. Tulane University – 11 (tied)
4. University of South Florida –11 (tied)
5. University of Washington – 11 (tied)

Historical, Since 1961

1. University of California – Berkeley – 3,741
2. University of Wisconsin – Madison – 3,369
3. University of Washington – 3,101
4. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor – 2,775
5. University of Colorado – Boulder – 2,556

*Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2019 data as of September 30, 2019, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.