Colleges with the Best Co-Operative Education Programs

Monday, September 27, 2010

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS by Cristiana Quinn, GoLocalProv College Admissions Expert

The idea isn’t new, but with the lasting economic downturn, co-operative education is all the rage. Parents and students want some assurance that their degree is going to result in a job after college. Cooperative programs allow students to alternate study and work semesters, getting hands-on experience in their field and building their resume before they hit the job market.

While many colleges say that the offer internships, most will leave it up to the student to source the opportunity. Internships are also typically short, not very well-structured and unpaid. Co-operative education differs from internships in that students spend a significant number of their college terms off-campus working and getting paid in very structured, evaluated programs. Here are my top picks for co-operative colleges.

University of Cincinnati

UC pioneered cooperative education more than a century ago, and today it is still thriving on this bustling city campus with 3500 students per year participating. Several of the university’s colleges require a co-op experience and relationships span more than 1500 companies.

Drexel University

The Steinbright Career Development Center at Drexel is one of the most highly regarded co-op programs in the

nation. Each year, more than 9,500 Drexel students venture away from this Philadelphia campus to experience co-op programs around the world. Students can choose from more than 1,200 co-op employers in 28 states and 25 international locations, or conduct an independent search. The average six-month co-op salary is $14,858 and students can opt for a four or five year program depending on how many co-ops they want to pursue.

Georgia Institute of Technology

On this 400-acre campus in downtown Atlanta, you will find one of the premiere research universities in the US along with exciting D1 sports teams and a great co-op program. Georgia Tech also has the distinction of being the leading supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense contracting industries. And despite its name, this southern belle offers majors beyond engineering and computer science, including business, architecture and a full liberal arts college.

Northeastern University

Most New Englanders associate co-operative education with Northeastern, and it is a leader in the field with more than 6,000 students participating each year. Programs span a wide variety of fields from health sciences to pre-law and business. Each college within the university administers co-op opportunities, and students are encouraged to

venture out into a variety of fields that may interest them. The emphasis is on deciding where your passion lies through exploration and experiential learning.

Rochester Institute of Technology

Don’t let the name fool you - some of the most exciting co-op stories coming out of RIT aren’t technical at all. From NY advertising agencies and ESPN to Hasbro and Bath & Body Works, RIT boasts some of the most varied co-op jobs around. This modern campus in upstate New York is a haven for those who want to focus on career-oriented education at the undergraduate level.

Cristiana Quinn, M.Ed. is the founder of College Admission Advisors, LLC, a Providence-based educational consulting firm which provides strategic, individual counseling for college-bound students. www.collegeadvisorsonline.com

Photo Mary Knox Merrill

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink