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Work hard, play well
June 17, 2025
A co-op at Lego shows one University of Cincinnati student that innovative design starts with a spirit of play.
The Proof is in the Promise
Co-op
For over 100 years, UC’s cooperative-education (co-op) program has helped students graduate with a career already waiting for them.
The University of Cincinnati invented co-op more than 100 years ago and we continue to innovate all aspects of experience-based learning.
Today, our approach to experience-based learning is embedded through the Bearcat Promise — our commitment to provide the people, tools and experiences that ensure every Bearcat graduates on time with both a degree and a resume.
This promise delivers true educational ROI: real-world experience, career readiness, and a lifelong advantage as a Bearcat.
What is cooperative education?
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.
Your Next Starts Now
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Education
that Pays
for Itself
Innovator of Educational ROI
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 1,700-plus employer partners. Our co-op students not only earn an average of $11,220 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.
$94M
collective student co-op earnings
A Leader in Experience-Based Learning
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:
- 53,600+ students
- 360,000+ living alumni
- 8,395 co-op placements last year across Fortune 500 companies, startups, nonprofits, and research labs
- Experiential learning opportunities offered in all 50 states and 22 countries.
- 1,757 co-op employers
98%
employment or continuing education rate following graduation
Results that Fuel Your Future
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.
1700+
co-op employee partners
$94M
in student co-op earnings
$11,220
avg student earnings per semester
The Student Co-op Experience
Meet Keller
Biomedical Engineering Co-op
Kinetic Vision | Cincinnati, OH
Stories of Co-op Impact
823 Results
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UC welcomes record-breaking student body
August 26, 2024
The University of Cincinnati anticipates record enrollment as classes begin Monday, Aug. 26, with a projected 52,000 students — a 2.1% increase over last year. Growth continues but is more strategic with the university attracting more online learners, a greater number of transfer and first-generation students along with a stronger student presence on regional campuses at Blue Ash and Clermont.
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Co-op's $88 million impact
August 13, 2024
In the 2023-24 academic year, more than 8,300 UC students earned an estimated $88.8 million collectively through paid co-op experiences, according to self-reported data. That averages to nearly $10,700 per student per semester. It’s an 18% increase in wages from the last reported co-op data.