AmeriCorps is a type of service year program. The biggest thing that differentiates AmeriCorps and non-AmeriCorps opportunities is that AmeriCorps opportunities come with the Segal Education Award, which awards money at the successful completion of your service year that you can use to pay for school or pay student loans. You can read more about the education award here. 

Regardless of whether you are doing your service year through AmeriCorps, you will be spending your year addressing an important community need and will be provided with support during your service year.