Pitt Places First in Pennsylvania in the Peace Corps’ Annual Rankings of Schools

Pitt has placed first among colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and 15th among the top large universities nationwide in the number of its alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers, according to figures issued by the Peace Corps last week.

In its annual rankings of the colleges and universities producing the most Peace Corps volunteers, the Peace Corps announced that Pitt, in its national position as No. 15, was the highest-ranked university to break into the top 25 list for large schools this year, with 52 Pitt alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers.

Also in the top 15 in the large school category were, among others, the University of Washington, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Colorado, the University of Michigan, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Minnesota.

Pitt placed ahead of such other institutions of higher education as the University of Illinois, the University of California at Los Angeles, and New York University in this category.

In the Peace Corps’ second annual graduate school rankings, Pitt was ranked No. 10 among all schools, with 11 advanced-degree Pitt alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers. Pitt shared its No. 10 ranking with George Washington University and the University of Maryland, College Park. Also in the top 10 were the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, the University of Wisconsin, Ohio State University, and the University of Minnesota, among others.

Pitt placed ahead of such other institutions of higher education as Harvard University, the University of California at Berkeley, and Cornell University in this category.

Among all colleges and universities with alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, regardless of institutional size, Pitt placed No. 17, tied with Cornell University.

Since the Peace Corps’ inception in 1961, 536 Pitt alumni have joined its ranks.

“Peace Corps allows graduates to take their skills outside the classroom and make a real difference in the lives of people who can most use their help,” said Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter. “The more than 1,200 institutions of higher learning that have volunteers overseas, sharing what they have learned, should be proud of their contributions.”

Schools are ranked according to the size of the student body. Small schools are those with less than 5,000 undergraduates, medium-size schools are those between 5,001 and 15,000 undergraduates, and large schools are those with more than 15,000 undergraduates.

To view the entire “Peace Corps Top Colleges 2007” list, visit the Peace Corps Web site at www.peacecorps.gov/news/resources/stats/pdf/schools2007.pdf.

Although earning a higher education degree is not a requirement for service, the majority of volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps over the past 45 years have been college graduates.

Currently, 93 percent of volunteers have at least an undergraduate degree, with 12 percent of those also possessing a graduate-level degree. However, over the years, the Peace Corps also has enjoyed the support and interest of high school graduates and community college graduates.

Since the Peace Corps was founded, more than 187,000 Peace Corps volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where volunteers have served. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.