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Work hard, play well
June 17, 2025
A co-op at Lego shows one University of Cincinnati student that innovative design starts with a spirit of play.
The Proof is in the Promise
Co-op
For over 100 years, UC’s cooperative-education (co-op) program has helped students graduate with a career already waiting for them.
The University of Cincinnati invented co-op more than 100 years ago and we continue to innovate all aspects of experience-based learning. Today, our approach to experience-based learning is embedded through the Bearcat Promise — our commitment to provide the people, tools, and experiences that ensure every Bearcat graduates on time with both a degree and a resume. This promise delivers true educational ROI: real-world experience, career readiness, and a lifelong advantage as a Bearcat.
Your Next Starts Now
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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
Stories of Co-op Impact
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UC student over the moon about NASA co-op
April 22, 2025
Not everyone who works at NASA is an astronaut. UC information technology student Colin Mallot hones his cybersecurity skills interning for the federal space agency, thanks to the Scholarship for Service funded by the National Science Foundation.
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From Legos to engine blocks
March 18, 2024
Even as a toddler, Emma Vail enjoyed figuring out how things work. 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.