A leg up in a challenging job market
Spectrum News highlights UC’s cooperative education model
It can be difficult for recent grads to stand out in today’s competitive job market.
Spectrum News recently reported that the unemployment rate for recent college grads is higher than the national average.
Smith graduated from UC College of Nursing in 2025. Photo/Gianna Smith
The outlet interviewed a panel of University of Cincinnati experts and alum for a look into how UC is preparing students for an evolving workforce.
Class of 2025 grad Gianna Smith is a registered nurse at Cincinnati Children's Hospital working in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. She told Spectrum News that her start in the workforce after graduation was smoother than expected.
She credited her hands-on learning experience at the College of Nursing for preparing her for such a demanding job.
"I feel like there's an abundance of resources here that have made me feel really supported as a new grad going into something so big," Smith said.
Annie Straka, associate dean of UC’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies, also weighed in on how so many of UC grads that participated in co-op programs are employed after graduation.
"Other universities, for instance, in the state, now are required to integrate work-based learning into their curriculum," Straka said. "We've been doing it for 100 years, so we are really ahead of the curve in that way."
UC co-op program: Frequently Asked Questions
What is co-op at the University of Cincinnati?
UC defines cooperative education, or co-op, as meaningful, career-oriented, compensated workplace experiences. Co-op is a structured program where students complete academic coursework and get a paid job in their field of study, graduating with both a degree and real-world professional experience.
Find more info: What is co-op in college? How cooperative education works
Are UC co-op positions paid?
Many UC co‑ops are paid, full‑time roles. Students often use co‑op earnings to help cover tuition and living expenses, which can reduce the need for loans and improve the overall return on investment of their degree.
Learn more: How cooperative education and paid experience change the ROI equation
Which majors offer co-op, and where do UC students work?
Co‑op is deeply integrated into programs in engineering, design, information technology, business, arts, sciences and more, with support from the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies. UC is committed to offering all students career-building, real-world experiences related to their field.
UC students co‑op in Cincinnati, across Ohio, throughout the U.S. and abroad with employers ranging from startups, design studios and nonprofits to hospitals, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
How does co-op help UC students after graduation?
By graduation, many Bearcats have up to 1.5 years of career‑related experience, strong resumes and professional networks. A significant number receive full‑time job offers from their co‑op employers, which is why the University of Cincinnati is widely recognized as the global founder of cooperative education and a national leader in co‑ops and internships.
For Smith, co-op meant building professional relationships and gaining valuable hands-on experience before she even graduated.
“That was a really special opportunity to build those connections and see firsthand what kind of patient population we deal with," Smith said.
UC co-op fast facts
- $94 million-plus in collective self-reported earnings
- 8,300-plus students from disciplines across the university participate
- $11,220 average co-op salary per student per semester
- 1,700-plus employer partners participate in co-op
- Top 5 program in the nation (U.S. News & World Report)
Learn more about cooperative education (co-op) at UC.
Adaptability is key
It’s not a lack of hiring keeping new grads from landing jobs. UC Lindner College of Business economics professor David Brasington told Spectrum that even if the demand is there, a growing number of experienced workers are competing for positions that would typically go to a new employee.
Brasington emphasized the importance of being open to new workflows and processes like artificial intelligence to stand out as a recent grad.
"A lot of their existing workers are older and more reluctant to adopt new technologies, whereas my students use AI regularly," Brasington said. "So they bring a lot of skills to the table that could be incorporated into the business and really enhance productivity."
Your career is next
Through one of the nation’s most robust co-op programs, UC students don’t just learn about their future — they live it, alternating classroom study with real, career-shaping experience in industries around the world.
Students: Earn while you learn at UC.
Employers: Find your next hire.
Featured image at top of UC Nursing students. Photo/provided
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