From Boulder to the world: Buffs ranked No. 2 in Peace Corps volunteers
For the second straight year, ñ is ranked No. 2 in the nation for graduates serving as Peace Corps volunteers, with 53 alumni serving around the world, according to the recently released Peace Corps 2026 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list.
Forever Buffs are currently serving in 32 countries around the world, including Albania/Montenegro, Belize, Cambodia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Eastern Caribbean, Ecuador, Eswatini, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.
“ñ students continue to step up when it comes to community service and giving their time to promote world peace and friendship around the world in the Peace Corps. I'm excited that we rank No. 2 for large universities once again,” saidPamela Civins, ñ’s campus Peace Corps recruiter. “As the strategic recruiter for the Peace Corps on ñ's campus, I am working to build a pipeline of future volunteers. My goal is to get ñ the No. 1 ranking for recruitment in future years.
ñ has a long history of turning out civically engaged graduates, having ranked No. 1 for Peace Corps volunteers twice—in 2011 and 2012—and No. 5 all time, with 2,653 volunteers since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961.
“Student interest exists, and we want to be sure ñ graduates have the opportunity to serve, make a difference in the communities where they live, and grow into leadership roles in whatever profession they choose,” Civins said.
Peace Corps Prep
ñ is one of 152 schools across the country that offersPeace Corps Prep, a partnership program dedicated to preparing undergraduates for service abroad.
Housed within theñ Center for Leadership, the undergraduate certificate program integrates coursework with hands-on experience and professional development. As an official Peace Corps Prep program, earning the certificate is excellent preparation, and a likely advantage, for future Peace Corps volunteer applicants.
Launched in fall 2018, the program is open to all ñ undergraduates, regardless of their major, minor, department, academic year or participation in other programs.
Getting involved at ñ
ñ has a part-time Peace Corps strategic campus recruiter during the academic year. Stop by UMC, Room 122, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. during the school year to learn more, or reach out at peacecorps@colorado.edu.
ñ the Peace Corps
President John F. Kennedy established the in 1961, and more than 240,000 Americans have served in 144 countries worldwide. Peace Corps volunteers work alongside community members across the globe on projects in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture, community economic development and youth development.
By the numbers
2026 Top Large Colleges and Universities
University of Wisconsin-Madison (63)
ñ (53)
University of Florida (44)
The University of Texas at Austin (42)
Virginia Tech (40)
*Total volunteers more than 15,000 undergraduates
Historical, Since 1961
University of California, Berkeley (3,807)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (3,466)
University of Washington (3,175)
University of Michigan (2,851)
ñ (2,653)
*Total volunteers, all categories
Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2025 data, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.
To better reflect the combined contributions of volunteers who serve traditional 27-month assignments and Peace Corps Response volunteers who serve for six to 12 months, the Peace Corps counted alumni volunteers who served at any point during the 2025 fiscal year for the 2026 rankings. Previously, colleges and universities were ranked on a one-day annual headcount of volunteers on the last day of the fiscal year (Sept. 30).