The Proof is in the Promise
Co-op
Real-world learning, built into every degree
For 120 years, UC’s cooperative-education (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.
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
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
Experience-Based Learning at UC
Students receive individualized career coaching, resume support and employer matching throughout their co-op journey.
Stories of Co-op Impact
UC finds integrating substance use disorder treatment into clinic-based internal medicine expands access to care
May 18, 2026
A University of Cincinnati primary care teaching clinic integrates substance use disorder treatment into resident training, expanding access to addiction care and boosting physician confidence.
A jolly good trip: Bearcats take on London for fragrance company
May 18, 2026
Six NEXT Innovation Scholars at the University of Cincinnati traveled to London to transform field research into actionable recommendations for British luxury bath, body and fragrance brand Molton Brown.