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.
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 1,700-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
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.
1700+
co-op employee partners
$94M
in student co-op earnings
$11,220
avg student earnings per semester
Meet Keller
Biomedical Engineering Co-op
Kinetic Vision | Cincinnati, OH
Students receive individualized career coaching, resume support and employer matching throughout their co-op journey.
March 23, 2026
UC’s inaugural cybersecurity career fair at Nippert Stadium connected 350+ students from 10 colleges with 40+ regional employers, networking, panels and scholarships.
March 23, 2026
The top ranked cooperative education (co-op) program led Hannah Laman to the University of Cincinnati. Laman, a fifth-year computer science student, has tackled co-op positions ranging from working in software delivery systems, to data analysis, to sports analytics. Through co-op, the College of Engineering and Applied Science gives students the opportunity to gain real-world work experience and test out various roles in their chosen major before they graduate.
March 18, 2026
Current and incoming students competed for six full-tuition scholarships and $62,500 in additional awards during CCM's 2026 Opera Scholarship Competition on Saturday, March 14 in Corbett Auditorium.
