The University of Cincinnati invented cooperative education in 1906 and for 120 years, the co-op program has helped students graduate with a career already waiting for them.
At UC, learning goes beyond the classroom.
As the birthplace of cooperative education, UC embeds real-world experience into every degree. However, co-op is just the beginning.
UC helps students complete a required portfolio of experience-based learning that can include internships, research, clinicals, service learning, global study and industry-connected projects.
This hands-on training turns knowledge into skillsets and coursework into career momentum. It’s not optional or extracurricular; it’s built into the degree, powering more than 32,000 real-world learning experiences every year.
Cooperative education, or co-op, is an educational model that connects academic learning with paid, career-relevant workplace experience. These experiences are intentionally aligned with a student’s major so classroom knowledge is applied to real projects, teams, and challenges.
At the University of Cincinnati, co-op refers both to the students who participate and the professional experiences they complete. UC co-op students work with partners across industry, government, nonprofit organizations and the university while continuing to make progress toward their degrees.
Through co-op, students build professional skills, expand their networks and contribute meaningfully to today’s workforce, graduating with experience that sets them apart.
For the University of Cincinnati, our return on investment lies in our co-op student outcomes. Every semester, UC students go to work — at Nike, at Google, at any one of the university’s 1,798 employer partners. Our co-op students not only earn an average of $13,130 per semester, they graduate with 12.2% lower student loan debt compared to peers at other schools. Almost all students (98%) are employed or continue their education at the time of graduation.
$99.5m
collective student co-op earnings
The University of Cincinnati is leading urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact. We're engaging people and igniting ideas, ultimately transforming the world — one Bearcat at a time. UC by the numbers:
98%
employment or continuing education rate following graduation
Behind every dream is proof that it’s possible. Our numbers show how pathways, outcomes, and opportunities add up — giving you the confidence that your future is built on results.
$99.5m
in student co-op earnings
1798
co-op employee partners
$13,130
average student earnings per semester
Students receive individualized career coaching, resume support and job search support throughout their co-op journey.
Meet Keller
Biomedical Engineering Co-op
Kinetic Vision | Cincinnati, OH
August 19, 2026
Stars and Stripes magazine highlighted the co-op experience of a University of Cincinnati mechanical engineering student who is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
August 19, 2026
UC cybersecurity student Ethan Bernhardt uses his skills to keep ransomware at bay and protect sensitive data during co-ops at Kroger and U.S. Bank in Cincinnati.
August 17, 2026
UC architectural engineering graduate Jeremy Ackley turned his co-op rotations with CMTA, a national engineering consulting firm in Texas, into a full-time role, showcasing the University of Cincinnati’s national co-op footprint.
