The present study focused on undergraduate student (74 women, 46 men; M age = 19.9 years old, SD = 3.39) perceptions of their campus atmosphere as it relates to community service motives and engaging in public service. Lower-division students (n = 82) compared to upper-division students (n = 38), controlling for social desirability, perceived the campus atmosphere as more altruistic and reported stronger service motives based on a commitment to address public interest, social justice, and a display of self-sacrificing. Also, for lower students an altruistic campus atmosphere significantly predicted a commitment to public interests, a sense of civic duty to the community, and a feeling of compassion toward helping others. Results imply that school communities need to promote, communicate, and display a helpful environment as a way to facilitate student engagement in community volunteerism at least among first-year and sophomore students.