When you join AmeriCorps, you choose how you want to give back. Mentor a child. Help boost graduation rates. Support communities impacted by natural disaster. Work to end hunger. These are just a few of the service opportunities available to you through AmeriCorps.
If you are 18-26, you can gain experience while supporting climate change mitigation, building affordable housing, disaster response, and more. You will travel the country, all expenses paid, and earn money for college while serving on a team full-time.
During service, you will receive:
- Basic expenses, including communal housing, meals, and a limited health benefit
- All program-related travel, including to your training location, projects, and back home after your service term
- A modest living allowance for your personal expenses
- Valuable training in leadership, technical skills, teamwork, and more
- Forbearance for federally backed students loans; after you successfully complete your term of service, you are eligible to have the interest incurred during service paid in full
After service, you will receive:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of over $7,000 to use on future educational expenses or to pay back qualified student loans (Summer of Service graduates will receive a prorated Segal Education Award of approximately $1,550 for completing a term of Summer of Service with NCCC)
- Competitive job edge in your job search, including access to a network of over 700 Employers of National Service
- Opportunities to make your education more affordable through scholarships, application fee waivers, and other benefits for AmeriCorps alums provided by hundreds of Schools of National Service
Specific Eligibility Criteria
- To serve as a Corps Member, you must be between 18-26* years old. To serve as a Team Leader, you must be 18 or older (no upper age limit). You may apply to Traditional Corps at 17, if you will turn 18 before arriving on campus. You must be 18 to apply to FEMA Corps.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen (required for FEMA Corps and Forest Corps), or a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S.
- Must pass an initial drug screening test upon arrival to the program. A positive test on a drug screen for any substance (including marijuana) at any time during service could result in dismissal from the program.
- Team Leaders must have a valid driver’s license, as they will be expected to drive the team vehicle.
- Must be available for 10-11 months of full-time service consisting of extensive travel.