What the Peace Corps’ 2024 State Rankings Tell Us About American Service, and Why It Still Matters

https://www.peacecorps.gov/about-the-agency/media-center/news/peace-corps-announces-2024-top-volunteer-producing-states/

The Peace Corps has released its 2024 list of the top volunteer-producing states, offering more than just a snapshot of where its recruits come from, it reveals something deeper about the enduring draw of public service and the quiet ways Americans contribute to international peace and prosperity. Leading the list is California, which sent 361 volunteers abroad this year. Not far behind are Texas (181), New York (177), Virginia (172), and Florida (171). The numbers may look small compared to state populations, but the impact of these volunteers on both the communities they serve and on the United States itself is anything but.

A Low-Cost, High-Return Model of Diplomacy

In an era when U.S. foreign aid and international programs often comeunder political scrutiny, the Peace Corps remains one of the most cost-effective tools of soft power. What’s often overlooked is how this work also strengthens the U.S. both diplomatically and economically. It doesn’t rely on large infrastructure projects or security contracts. Instead, it depends on the slow, steady work of building trust; person to person, village to village. This kind of diplomacy doesn’t grab headlines, but it pays long-term dividends. Every volunteer represents a form of grassroots foreign policy: listening before acting, learning before teaching. In return, they offer host communities an alternative vision of the U.S., one defined not by politics or military force, but by individuals with open minds and a willingness to engage.

National Benefits Beyond Borders

There’s also a domestic payoff. Volunteers return to the U.S. with firsthand experience in global development, language proficiency, and cross-cultural communication, skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s interconnected job market. Many go on to work in government, education, public health, and the nonprofit sector, often serving communities at home with the same passion and commitment they brought abroad. In this way, the Peace Corps is not just an international service organization, it’s a national investment in workforce development.

The Geography of Service

The state-by-state rankings tell their own story. California, with its deep university system, strong culture of civic engagement, and large immigrant population, has long been a Peace Corps stronghold. Texas and New York reflect similar trends: highly diverse, globally connected populations with strong academic institutions feeding into public service pipelines. Meanwhile, the appearance of Virginia, Florida, Colorado, and North Carolina in the top ten suggests that the ethos of international service is spreading well beyond traditional liberal enclaves. These states are home to military bases, public universities, and growing urban centers, places where young people may be more aware of both the challenges and opportunities of a globalized world.

Relevance in a Changing World

The Peace Corps also tracks the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities, a ranking regularly featured in WorldView Magazine. http://flickread.com/edition/html/65264bf0a3e91#4  Together, these lists spotlight the American institutions, educational and geographic, most invested in global engagement. In 2024, the Peace Corps is not a relic of the past. It’s a relevant, evolving institution responding to modern challenges, from climate resilience to public health, with humility and purpose. And as the rankings show, Americans from every corner of the country are still answering the call.

By Toronto Eschrich