Today, the Peace Corps announced that the University of Florida (UF) ranked No. 5 among large size schools on the agency’s 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. There are 68 Gators currently volunteering worldwide.

This is the eighth consecutive year that the University of Florida has ranked among the top 5 large colleges and universities. In addition, Florida ranked No. 3 among Peace Corps’ top volunteer-producing states in 2017. There are 355 volunteers from the Sunshine State currently serving worldwide.

The University of Florida is a Peace Corps University Program partner offering the Peace Corps Prep certificate program to undergraduates. Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program for undergraduates that centers on empowering their skills to be the best volunteer.

“Peace Corps service is a profound expression of the idealism and civic engagement that colleges and universities across the country inspire in their alumni,” said Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley. “As Peace Corps Volunteers, recent college and university graduates foster capacity and self-reliance at the grassroots level, making an impact in communities around the world. When they return to the United States, they have new, highly sought-after skills and an enterprising spirit that further leverages their education and strengthens their communities back home.”

Alumni from more than 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide have served in the Peace Corps since the agency’s founding in 1961. A total of 1,406 UF alumni have served in the Peace Corps since the agency was founded.

 
Carolyn Kreuzkamp of Melbourne, Florida graduated from UF in 2016 and is serving as an English education and development volunteer in China. “During my time at UF I was exposed to many different cultures via student-lead clubs and events, and was able to meet many new friends from all over the world. This personally inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and go explore different lifestyles,” said Kreuzkamp.

Daniela Pulido of Weston, Florida graduated from UF in 2015 and is serving as a secondary English teacher in Nicaragua. “What I loved about my experience at UF is the incredible professors we have. During my senior year I decided I wanted to know more about Latino culture & literature and took classes with Prof. Efrain Barradas on Latin American studies. What I learned has been very present throughout my experience with Peace Corps Nicaragua and I am forever thankful for his guidance and ideas,” said Pulido.

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 2018 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 – 85
2. University of Washington – 74
3. University of Minnesota – 72
4. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill – 70
5. University of Florida – 68

Medium Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:

Between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates

1. George Washington University – 50
2. American University – 49
3. College of William and Mary – 35
4. University of Montana – 34
5. Tulane University – 33

Small Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:

Fewer than 5,000 undergraduates

      1. St. Mary’s College of Maryland – 17

      2. Macalester College – 15

      2. St. Lawrence University – 15

      4. University of Redlands – 14

      4. University of Mary Washington – 14.

      4. Evergreen State College – 14

      4. Hobart and William Smith Colleges – 14

      4. Whitworth University – 14

      4. Spelman College – 14

      10. Willamette University – 13

      10. Denison University – 13

      10. Agnes Scott College – 13

      13. Carleton College – 12

      13. Bucknell University – 12

      13. Eckerd College – 12

Graduate Schools – Total Volunteers:

       1. Tulane University – 27

       2. American University – 19

       3. University of South Florida – 16

      4. George Washington University – 15

      5. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – 14

      5. Columbia University – 14

      5. University of Denver – 14

Historical, Since 1961 – Total Volunteers:

1. University of California, Berkeley      3,671
2. University of Wisconsin–Madison     3,279
3. University of Washington                   3,027
4. University of Michigan                       2,720
5. University of Colorado Boulder         2,504

*Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2017 data as of September 30, 2017, 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, 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 230,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.