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.
April 7, 2026
The HBO Original five-part documentary series "Born to Bowl," directed by CCM Media Production alumnus Brian Lazarte and James Lee Hernandez, from A24 and executive produced by Ben Stiller, and narrated by Liev Schreiber, airs its final episode on Monday, April 13. It will be available to watch on HBO as well as stream on HBO Max.
April 6, 2026
The Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest has named UC College-Conservatory of Music student San-Lou Wei, a second-year DMA candidate, as its grand prize winner for her original work, Moon Blocks: A Divination Ritual 擲筊.
April 3, 2026
UC construction management and DAAP students won first place in the 2026 NAHB production home build competition with an interdisciplinary, real-world community proposal.
