AmeriCorps Longitudinal Study
New results from a longitudinal study of AmeriCorps members
demonstrate the early impacts of national service on members’ civic
engagement, education, employment, and life skills. Findings reveal
that AmeriCorps alumni are more connected to their communities, more
knowledgeable about problems facing their communities, and more likely
to participate in community activities. They also are more likely to
choose public service careers.
Learn more about Serving Country and Community: A Longitudinal Study of Service
in AmeriCorps:
Factsheet (114 KB PDF)
Executive Summary (2.1 MB PDF)
Ten Simple Ways You Can Use the AmeriCorps Longitudinal Study (230 KB PDF) Key Messages
Largest Most Rigorous Study of AmeriCorps
• Until now, we have not had a way of measuring the impact of AmeriCorps on
members’ attitudes and behaviors after their year of service.
• The findings reflect only the initial stages of a long-term
longitudinal study, but they demonstrate a powerful positive impact on
members’ attitudes and behaviors in areas of civic engagement,
education, employment and life skills.
• This study, which has been underway since 1998, includes a nationally
representative sample of more than 2,000 AmeriCorps members and
compares changes in the outcomes over time to those of similarly
interested individuals not enrolled in AmeriCorps.
• This study was conducted by Abt. Associates Inc., an independent
social policy and research firm, under contract to the Corporation for
National and Community Service.
National Service Increases Civic Engagement
• AmeriCorps members are finding a greater connection to their
communities, a better understanding of the problems facing their
communities, and are more involved in community based activities such
as attending public meetings and writing to newspapers.
• The study shows those who are civically disengaged prior to joining
AmeriCorps, leave their term of service more involved in their
communities than ever before.
National Service Is a Pipeline to Public Service
• Former AmeriCorps members were significantly more likely than the
comparison group to enter careers in public service such as teaching,
public safety, social work and full time military service.
• AmeriCorps members experienced significant increases in their work
skills, showing their experience better prepared them for the real
world.
Early Findings Show Limited Impacts on Education
• Members with only a high school degree appear to pursue higher
education at about the same rate as the comparison group, despite the
education award.
• This may be due to the declining value of the education award as
college costs have significantly increased in recent years. Comparison
members also had one extra year to potentially enroll in school while
AmeriCorps members were serving.
Overall Positive Statistics Are Encouraging
• While these findings only reflect the initial results of a long-term
study, the Corporation is encouraged that the statistics as a whole are
so strong and in many cases statistically significant.
• Next year we will begin the process of surveying AmeriCorps members five years
after service.
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