There are 33 HSU alumni currently volunteering worldwide. It’s the 10th year in a row that HSU has been a ranked as a top volunteer-producing school.
“Peace Corps service is an unparalleled leadership opportunity that enables college and university alumni to use the creative-thinking skills they developed in school to make an impact in communities around the world,” Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley said. “Many college graduates view the Peace Corps as a launching pad for their careers because volunteers return home with the cultural competency and entrepreneurial spirit sought after in most fields.”
Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, 841 Lumberjacks have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers. HSU has been ranked each year over the past decade and is one of five California schools to make this year’s list.
Service in the Peace Corps is a life-defining, hands-on experience that offers volunteers the opportunity to travel to a community overseas and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
“My time spent at HSU has been fundamental for my Peace Corps service,” Peace Corps volunteer and Humboldt State alumna Kayla Masengale said. “My studies within my department gave me the knowledge and tools I needed to work successfully with people, and how to provide a supportive and responsive environment to all.”
This year’s rankings follow the launch of a refreshed brand platform that underscores the agency’s commitment to putting the user experience first and makes the Peace Corps more accessible to audiences through the platforms they already use. A simple and personal Peace Corps application process can be completed online in about one hour. Applicants can learn more about service opportunities by assignment area, country and departure date by visiting the Peace Corps website and connecting with a recruiter.
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 2017 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 – 87
2. University of Washington – 73
3. University of Minnesota – 70
4. University of Michigan – 60
5. University of Florida – 58
Medium Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
Between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates
1. American University – 54
2. Western Washington University – 48
3. The George Washington University – 45
4. The College of William & Mary – 36
5. Humboldt State University – 33
Small Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
Less than 5,000 undergraduates
1. Denison University – 16
2. University of Mary Washington – 13
2. University of Puget Sound – 13
4. St. Mary’s College of Maryland – 12
4. Whitworth University – 12
4. Hobart and William Smith Colleges – 12
Graduate Schools – Total Volunteers:
1. American University – 20
1. Tulane University – 20
3. University of South Florida – 18
4. University of Michigan – 15
4. Boston University – 15
Historical, Since 1961 – Total Volunteers:
1. University of California, Berkeley – 3,640
2. University of Wisconsin–Madison – 3,239
3. University of Washington – 2,981
4. University of Michigan – 2,684
5. University of Colorado Boulder – 2,468
*Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2016 data as of September 30, 2016, 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, 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 225,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov.