Scholarships for Returning Peace Corps Volunteers (2026): 19 Verified RPCV Scholarships & Coverdell Fellowships
January
1) Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy — Coverdell Fellowship (MIDP)
Why It Slaps: This is a strong pick for RPCVs who want to turn field experience into a serious policy or development career. The biggest selling point is the 50% tuition scholarship, which meaningfully cuts the cost of a prestigious master’s program instead of offering a tiny symbolic award. It is especially attractive for volunteers aiming at international development, NGOs, government, or mission-driven research because the fellowship also keeps the service component alive through a local community internship.
Amount: 50% tuition scholarship
Deadline: January 5 priority deadline
Apply/info: Official program page.
2) Teachers College, Columbia University — Jaffe Peace Corps Fellows Program
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most generous RPCV options on the board if teaching is your lane. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition, and the structure is unusually practical because fellows work as full-time teachers in high-need New York City public schools while earning the degree. For RPCVs who want a mission-driven education path with immediate classroom impact, this one hits hard.
Amount: 100% tuition scholarship
Deadline: November 1 and January 15
Apply/info: Official program page.
3) George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health — Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: This is a clean public-health fit for RPCVs who want a recognizable MPH program with a real tuition break. GW lists the fellowship value at $20,000, roughly a 25% tuition discount, which is substantial enough to change the math on a DC-area graduate degree. It is a smart choice for volunteers moving toward public health systems, nonprofits, or policy work.
Amount: About $20,000 (roughly 25% tuition discount)
Deadline: January 15 priority scholarship deadline; March 15 regular fall admission
Apply/info: Official program page.
4) NYU School of Professional Studies — Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: NYU SPS makes this one attractive because it is not just tuition help. Fellows get a 50% scholarship plus a $750-per-semester stipend, which gives this award more real-world usefulness than many tuition-only discounts. For RPCVs who want graduate study in a flexible professional setting and value being in New York, this is a very solid option.
Amount: 50% scholarship plus $750 stipend per semester
Deadline: January 15
Apply/info: Official program page.
5) Florida State University College of Social Work — Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the better RPCV options for social work because the tuition support is meaningful and the field placement is built into the professional path. FSU reports a fellowship value of $21,386 for in-state students and $53,257 for out-of-state students, and the tuition-credit waiver setup can dramatically reduce the price of the MSW. If your Peace Corps service pushed you toward counseling, community systems, disability services, or human services, this deserves a serious look.
Amount: 11-hour tuition credit waiver in fall and spring, 9-hour tuition credit waiver in summer; listed fellowship value $21,386 in-state / $53,257 out-of-state
Deadline: January 15
Apply/info: Official program page.
6) Georgetown University School of Foreign Service — Coverdell Fellowship in Global Human Development
Why It Slaps: This one is strong for RPCVs who want development work without giving up academic seriousness. Georgetown says admitted RPCVs with at least a 33% tuition scholarship per year qualify as Coverdell Fellows, and the program also waives the application fee for returned volunteers. It is a smart fit for volunteers aiming at global development, poverty alleviation, social innovation, or multilateral work.
Amount: Minimum 33% tuition scholarship per year for qualifying admitted RPCVs, plus application fee waiver
Deadline: January 15 for scholarship consideration; final application deadline April 1
Apply/info: Official program page.
February
7) Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing — Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the clearest, cleanest RPCV funding pages online, which is already a win. Hopkins states that applicants are considered for $12,500 scholarships, with about a dozen awarded each year, and RPCVs may also be eligible for additional merit support. If your Peace Corps service pushed you toward community health, patient care, or underserved-clinic work, this one feels especially on-brand.
Amount: $12,500 scholarship
Deadline: February 1
Apply/info: Official program page.
8) NYU School of Global Public Health — Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: This one is appealing because the value is big enough to matter. NYU lists a 50% tuition scholarship and a fellowship value of $45,591, which moves it far above “nice to have” territory. For RPCVs headed into epidemiology, community health, health policy, or global health leadership, it is one of the more serious options on this list.
Amount: 50% tuition scholarship; listed fellowship value $45,591
Deadline: Early February
Apply/info: Official program page.
9) Arizona State University — Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows
Why It Slaps: ASU is a good match for RPCVs who want options across multiple graduate programs instead of being boxed into one niche degree. The funding is described as in-state tuition waiver / tuition assistance, which can be a major savings lever, and ASU’s structure gives volunteers several academic pathways. This is a practical pick for applicants who want flexibility and a large university ecosystem.
Amount: In-state tuition waiver / tuition assistance, depending on academic unit
Deadline: February 3 for most fellowship applications
Apply/info: Official program page.
March
10) Rutgers University–Camden Department of Public Policy and Administration — Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most financially aggressive options in the RPCV space. Rutgers-Camden lists a 100% tuition and fee waiver, which is exactly the kind of number that can move a graduate degree from “maybe” to “yes.” For volunteers pursuing MPA or public affairs work, this is a top-tier value play.
Amount: 100% tuition and fee waiver
Deadline: March 1 priority funding deadline; applications accepted through June 1
Apply/info: Official program page.
11) SUNY University at Albany School of Public Health — Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: This is a nice option for RPCVs who want public health but need something more budget-aware than the highest-cost private programs. Albany lists an on-campus fellowship value of $4,100 in-state and $4,900 out-of-state, plus up to 9 internship credits waived based on Peace Corps service in the online MPH context. It is not the flashiest award here, but it can be a smart, efficient fit.
Amount: Listed fellowship value $4,100 in-state / $4,900 out-of-state; up to 9 internship credits waived in the online MPH option
Deadline: March 1 for on-campus program; April 1 for online fall admission
Apply/info: Official program page.
12) Cornell University CALS — Master of Professional Studies in Global Development
Why It Slaps: Cornell gives this option real weight by listing a fellowship value of $20,444 and describing the support as roughly 50% off tuition, with the possibility of full tuition in some cases. That makes it a serious contender for RPCVs who want global development training at a very strong school. It is especially attractive if your service experience translates well into food systems, development practice, or international project work.
Amount: Listed fellowship value $20,444; about 50% tuition, with possibility of full tuition in some cases
Deadline: March 15
Apply/info: Official program page.
13) University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs — Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: This is a good mid-cost, practical public-affairs option for RPCVs who want a one-year pathway. Colorado Denver lists a 25% scholarship, a fellowship value of $6,925, a waived application fee, and help securing a paid internship. That combination makes it more useful than a headline number alone.
Amount: 25% scholarship; listed fellowship value $6,925; application fee waived
Deadline: March 15 priority for Coverdell Fellowship; July 1 final AMPA deadline
Apply/info: Official program page.
14) Seton Hall University School of Diplomacy and International Relations — Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the stronger international-relations fits for RPCVs who want diplomacy, foreign policy, or international affairs without paying full sticker price. Seton Hall lists 50% tuition coverage, described as six credits of scholarship per semester, plus a waived application fee. That is a meaningful package for a degree that maps naturally to many Peace Corps alumni career paths.
Amount: 50% tuition scholarship / six credits per semester; listed fellowship value $31,005
Deadline: March 31 preferred deadline for fall start
Apply/info: Official program page.
May
15) University of South Florida College of Public Health — Coverdell Fellowship
Why It Slaps: USF is interesting because the value stack is more layered than it first appears. The program gives a $2,000 scholarship, renewable for year two for a total of $4,000, plus an out-of-state tuition waiver and priority for graduate assistantships that can be worth much more. For RPCVs who want public health and like the idea of stretching every dollar, this one deserves attention.
Amount: $2,000 scholarship, renewable once for total $4,000; out-of-state tuition waiver; GA opportunities prioritized
Deadline: May 1, 2026 for fall 2026 admission
Apply/info: Official program page.
Multiple rounds during the year
16) Georgetown University McDonough School of Business — Coverdell Fellowship (MiM)
Why It Slaps: This is a sharp option for RPCVs who want to pivot into management, strategy, or social-impact business roles without abandoning the public-service thread. Georgetown lists a minimum $14,490 tuition scholarship for admitted fellows plus an application fee waiver. The multiple deadline rounds make it more flexible than many RPCV programs.
Amount: Minimum $14,490 tuition scholarship; application fee waived
Deadline: MiM rounds in October, November, January, March, May, and June
Apply/info: Official program page.
August
17) Loyola University Chicago School of Law — Coverdell Fellowship (PROLAW)
Why It Slaps: This is a real niche winner for RPCVs who care about rule of law, justice reform, governance, or international legal development. Loyola lists a 30% tuition discount, with a fellowship value of $16,119, and the program’s capstone-plus-internship structure gives the degree more practical bite. It is not for everyone, but for the right applicant it is unusually aligned.
Amount: 30% tuition discount; listed fellowship value $16,119
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Apply/info: Official program page.
Rolling or program-by-program deadlines
18) Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies — Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best-value awards on the page when you look at the full package, not just the headline. Georgia State offers a full tuition waiver for fall and spring plus a $2,000-per-semester graduate research assistantship stipend for selected fellows. For RPCVs interested in public policy, criminal justice, economics, social work, or urban studies, this is a heavyweight option.
Amount: Full tuition waiver for fall and spring, plus $2,000 stipend per semester
Deadline: By the participating graduate program’s priority deadline
Apply/info: Official program page.
19) Clark University — Coverdell Fellowship for RPCVs
Why It Slaps: Clark makes the list because the award is both clear and useful: 50% tuition remission plus an application fee waiver. That is simple, substantial help at a school with a strong global and social-impact vibe, which tends to resonate with RPCVs. The rolling review also makes it worth keeping in your backup stack if earlier deadlines passed.
Amount: 50% tuition remission plus application fee waiver
Deadline: Rolling
Apply/info: Official program page.
20) American University School of International Service — Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program
Why It Slaps: American is a strong fit for RPCVs who want international affairs in Washington, DC, but still need a guaranteed funding floor. SIS states that fellows receive a minimum of 25% tuition support, starting at 10 credits spread over two years, with possible additional merit aid on top. That combination of location, subject matter, and guaranteed minimum support makes it worth a real look.
Amount: Minimum 25% tuition support
Deadline: By the priority deadline for the term you are seeking admission
Apply/info: Official program page.
FAQs
Are scholarships for Returning Peace Corps Volunteers mostly graduate-school awards?
Yes. The strongest verified funding for RPCVs is usually through Coverdell Fellows partner programs, which are graduate-school scholarships or fellowships tied to U.S. community internships rather than generic national sweepstakes-style scholarships.
Who counts as an eligible returned volunteer?
Programs commonly treat lifetime eligibility as covering volunteers who completed a full term, were granted early close of service, had interrupted service beyond their control, or were medically separated. Some schools also extend eligibility to returned Peace Corps Response and Global Health Service Partnership volunteers who completed 12 months of service.
Can I still use my Peace Corps after-service money too?
Peace Corps says returned volunteers who complete two years of service receive a $10,000 pre-tax readjustment allowance. That is not a scholarship, but it can still be useful reentry money while you line up graduate-school funding.
What should RPCVs compare first when choosing between programs?
Start with net cost, not just the headline scholarship number. After that, compare field fit, internship quality, city/cost of living, and whether the program naturally builds on what you already did in service. A 50% tuition award in the right field can beat a bigger-looking award attached to a degree you do not actually want.
Are there many true national scholarships only for RPCVs?
Not really compared with the school-based options. The verified landscape is much more concentrated in official university Coverdell programs than in big national standalone scholarship pools.
