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University of Florida

UF ranks No. 3 nationally for Peace Corps volunteers among large universities


The University of Florida ranks No. 3 in the nation among large universities on the Peace Corps’ 2026 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list, reinforcing UF’s commitment to public service and global engagement.

During the past fiscal year, 44 UF alumni served as Peace Corps volunteers in 21 countries, including Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Kosovo, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, Thailand, Uganda and Vanuatu. This represents an increase of 29% compared to last year, when 34 Gators served in 21 countries.

The ranking places UF among the nation’s top institutions preparing graduates to serve communities worldwide through hands-on work in education, health, agriculture, the environment and economic development.

“Service and community engagement are core parts of the University of Florida’s mission, and this recognition reflects our students’ commitment to making a difference in the world,” said Marta Wayne, associate provost and dean of the UF International Center. “Through programs that emphasize global engagement and experiential learning, we are preparing graduates to lead with purpose and apply their knowledge to address real-world challenges in communities across the globe. This achievement reflects the dedication of our campus community and the great work of our current and former Peace Corps recruiters, Charlie Hochfelder and Danielle Arnwine.”

Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, 1,536 University of Florida alumni have served abroad as volunteers.

Below are the 2026 Top Large Colleges and Universities — Total Volunteers category and the number of alumni who served as Peace Corps volunteers in fiscal year 2025.

  1. University of Wisconsin-Madison — 63
  2. University of Colorado Boulder — 53
  3. University of Florida — 44
  4. University of Texas at Austin — 42
  5. Virginia Tech — 40

“We are grateful to partner with colleges and universities across the nation who instill the value of national service in their students, inspiring them to pursue their purpose post-graduation,” said Peace Corps Acting Director Richard E. Swarttz.