co-op
will save higher ed
Falling public perception. Rising student loan debt.
At a time when the value of a college degree is more in question than ever, higher ed has something to prove.
For the University of Cincinnati, what we have to prove 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 1,800-plus employer partners. Those cooperative education (co-op) students not only earn an average of $10,700 per semester, they graduate with 12.2% lower student loan debt compared to peers at other schools. Almost all (98%) are employed or continuing education at graduation.
$88.8M
collective earnings
in 2023‑24
Co-op Defined
Cooperative education, or co-op, is defined as the practice of students completing paid, professional work experiences related to their area of study while in college.
UC's nationally-ranked co-op program is the oldest and one of the largest in the United States. Today, co-op looks like a traditional full-time experience, part-time employment or project-based engagements at organizations of all sizes, across all industries. Companies like Procter & Gamble, Intel, Microsoft, Amazon, Coca-Cola, Toyota, Meta, Novo Nordisk, Boeing, NASA, Nvidia and more are part of our network of more than 1,800 employers.
Our approach to co-op is embedded into the student experience through the Bearcat Promise, which is our commitment to students to provide the people, tools, and experiences that will ensure their opportunity to complete a degree and prepare them to pursue a career and professional life after graduation.
Why Co-op?
Truth is in the numbers. Our data show that co-op helps students offset tuition costs, meaning students graduate with less debt. For students and families, co-op equates to job security and an increased value of a degree. That financial benefit can have a ripple effects into communities, as well as the regional, national and global economy.
P&G has a long history of positive experiences with UC co-op students. The program is mutually beneficial — talented, undergraduate students learn and earn as they contribute to P&G innovations.
Sr. Vice President Procter & Gamble R&D
The University of Cincinnati is leading urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact. We're about engaging people and ideas — and transforming the world.
- 53,000+ students
- $700 million in research funding
- 350,000 living alumni
- $23.7 billion economic impact in Ohio
- 1,800+ co-op employers
Since inventing co-op in 1906, UC has continued to innovate on co-op to address the needs of a transforming workforce.
Read on to see how UC’s approach to co-op uniquely qualifies our students to meet the evolving demands of the global economy, and how all institutions of higher education can adopt and scale our best practices to maximize educational ROI.
Hands-on learning at Honda
Emma Vail was never one to learn by watching. Even as a toddler, she was using her hands to put together puzzles and build. A "doer" by nature, the University of Cincinnati engineering student finished two co-op rotations for Honda Motor Co. and works on Formula One cars as part of Bearcats Motorsports.
Keeping the nation safe at NASA
Not all heroes at NASA are astronauts. Fourth-year University of Cincinnati student Colin Malott is an intern at the NASA Office of Data Analytics with the Law Enforcement Analytics team. In this role, which he's held since January 2023, he is investigating and researching cybercrime.
Charting new territory at Champion
Maylea Salmon, a University of Cincinnati journalism student, is most inspired by what she sees through the camera lens. But she didn't know where that passion would lead. Something clicked when she applied for a paid internship at Champion. There, she was able to put her talent to work and land a full-time job as a contract photographer for the sports apparel company.
I am able to go into interviews and say, ‘These are the real-world projects I’ve worked on, here is what I’ve contributed to these real companies, and this is the actual experience I have that makes me a valuable candidate,’ which is incredible.
IBM, user experience (UX) design co-op
Top 5
for co-ops and internships
in U.S. News & World Report