Coverdell Fellows Program
We are proud to participate in the Peace Corps’ Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program. Established in 1985, Coverdell Fellows is a partnership between the Peace Corps and selected graduate schools across the country.
Volunteers who satisfactorily completed Peace Corps service have lifetime eligibility for Coverdell Fellows.
We recognize the unique experience RPCVs bring into the classroom setting, which can enhance the quality of discussions and academic performance throughout our student body. Coverdell Fellows is reserved exclusively for RPCVs. If accepted into our school's program, you will be offered a merit based award reserved for RPCVs as you work toward your graduate degree.
A maximum of 5 Coverdell Fellows awards are offered annually. These awards typically provide a half graduate assistantship carrying a yearly stipend of $9,100 and approximately $8,500 in tuition remission for the academic year. Additonal credits are charged at the in-state tuition rate. Fellows may also be eligible for other merit-based assistantships.
As part of the Coverdell Fellows Program, all Fellows participate in supervised, professional internships in underserved American communities. These internships give you the opportunity to continue to live out your ethic of service while also developing significant professional skills and contacts to further your career. Fellows work closely with our Career Services office to identify and prepare for internship opportunities.
The University of Maryland School of Public Policy partners with the Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program to offer the Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Public Management-Policy Track (MPM) and joint degrees in Business (MBA/MPP), Law (JD/MPP) and Social Work (MSW/MPP). Note: students only receive their Coverdell Fellows benefits while working on the Public Policy portion of a joint degree program.
To learn more about our programs, please contact our Coverdell Fellows Program coordinator at 301-405-6331 or policy-applications@umd.edu
