Tufts Top School for Peace Corps Volunteers

Tufts University Earns Top Spot on the 2012 Peace Corps Top Colleges Rankings

Tufts University ranks No. 15 on the 2012 top Peace Corps volunteer-producing colleges and universities in the medium size category. There are currently 31 undergraduate alumni serving overseas. Last year, Tufts University had 20 alumni volunteers and was not included in the 2011 rankings.

Since the agency was founded in 1961, 517 Tufts University alumni have served in the Peace Corps.

“Colleges and universities prepare thousands of talented undergraduate and graduate alumni for Peace Corps service every year,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (Dominican Republic, 1967-1970). “These alumni go on to serve as Peace Corps volunteers, applying the skills and knowledge they acquired during their studies to promote world peace and friendship and improve the lives of people around the world. Every day, volunteers make countless contributions to projects in agriculture, education, the environment, health and HIV/AIDS education and prevention, small business development, and youth development. I would like to extend my gratitude to all colleges and universities for their continued support of the Peace Corps and public service.”

Tufts University alumni are currently serving as volunteers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Ukraine. They work in areas including Education, Environment, Health and HIV/AIDS, Business Development and Youth Development.

Other Boston area colleges and universities made the 2012 rankings including Boston University, which is No. 16 among large schools; Boston College, which is No. 7 among medium size schools; and Wellesley College, which is No. 10 among small schools nationwide.

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing schools annually according to the size of the student body. Small schools have less than 5,000 undergraduates, medium-sized schools have between 5,001 and 15,000 undergraduates and large schools have more than 15,000 undergraduates. The rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2011 data as of September 30, 2011 as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.

About the Peace Corps: Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961, more than 200,000 Americans have served in 139 host countries. Today, 9,095 volunteers are working with local communities in 75 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment and the agency’s mission is to promote world peace and friendship and a better understanding between Americans and people of other countries. Visit www.peacecorps.gov for more information.

– Information from Tufts University