College of Charleston among Peace Corps’ 2020 top volunteer-producing schools

CHICAGO – Peace Corps announced today that College of Charleston ranked No. 14 among medium schools on the agency’s list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities in 2020. There are 21 Cougars currently volunteering in countries around the world.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the College of Charleston has ranked among the top 25 medium schools. Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, over 290 alumni from the College of Charleston have served abroad as volunteers.

“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.”

There are 80 volunteers from South Carolina currently serving worldwide and 1,741 South Carolinians have served in the Peace Corps since the agency’s founding in 1961. South Carolina volunteers are among the more than 240,000 Americans who have served around the world in areas such as agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth development since 1961. 

“College of Charleston is a melting pot of different backgrounds and experiences. My professors were constantly encouraging me to see what the world had to offer and to take advantage of it. The people I met made me eager to experience new cultures, with an open mind, and try to do some good in this world. My time at the college pushed me out of my comfort zone, and helped me make the decision to serve in Botswana,” said Addison Byrd, a volunteer in Botswana. 

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 2020 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category here.

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)

4. Allegheny – 13 (tied)

4. Whitman College–13 (tied)

Graduate Schools – Total Volunteers:

1. George Washington University – 14

2. New York University – 11 (tied)

2. Tulane University – 11 (tied)

2. University of South Florida –11 (tied)

2. 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.

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, the 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 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.