WWU Ranked #19 on Peace Corps’ List of Top Volunteer-Producing Large Schools

The Peace Corps today released the 2020 rankings of the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities across the country, and Western Washington University was ranked No. 19 among large schools, with 46 WWU alumni currently serving.

Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, more than 1,050 alumni from WWU have served abroad as volunteers.

“The desire to make a difference in the world has been a long-standing commitment of Western’s faculty and staff, and it shapes the experience of our students and alumni as well.  We’re proud of all our Western alumni who have made those service ideals a priority in their own lives, and inspire us with their Peace Corps service,” said Western President Sabah Randhawa.

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. Last year Western was ranked number five among medium-sized schools but this year was moved up into the category for large colleges and universities (more than 15,000 undergraduates).

Among large schools, the University of Wisconsin-Madison tops the list. View the complete 2020 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category here.

“I am very excited to have Western Washington University with our 15,000+ enrollment land on the Top 20 list for large colleges; we are ranked among colleges over double the size of Western’s undergraduate enrollment. This is a testament that our students are interested in being part of an interconnected world while continuing to grow and apply their service learning after graduation,” said Jill MacIntyre Witt, Peace Corps campus representative.

Western hosts a Peace Corps Prep program, an undergraduate certificate that provides prospective volunteer applicants with sector-specific job skills, foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence, and professional leadership development skills.

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.