Cooperative (or "co-op") education is an experiential learning strategy that encourages students to learn in a preferred field through combined classroom and "real-world" work. During school breaks, students are employed at participating companies. In this manner, students learn both theory and practice towards a career goal.

Tammy Freeman, a co-op student of Cornell University Engineering, signed up to work at a construction firm because "It is important… to use your knowledge and to see if you really want to do what you're studying to do. It was one of the best decisions I ever made." Tammy applied her classroom learning to her co-op work in the field. She was assigned to work in school renovations and purchasing.

While the quest for experience and knowledge in a given field has its own rewards, the participation of co-op students in at least a year of professional employment yields more than educational rewards. Students get to earn professional salaries. According to National Commission for Cooperative Education (NCCE), salaries from co-op programs range from $2,500 to $14,000 a year during breaks from school alone. Many students make as much as $40,000 during the entire co-op work terms. This amount can help defray tuition costs. It is also a big boost to help students graduate debt-free.

The practical work experience gained from co-op education can be added to the student's resume. The actual experience in a workplace also teaches the student how to cope more effectively in the actual work settings, giving them a big head start compared to their counterparts without job experience. Co-op students can network with executives and employees during the work term. After graduation, their co-op work experience can lead to full-time employment in their desired career field. NCCE has found that more than 60% of co-op students accept jobs from their co-op employers. For those co-op students who sought employment elsewhere, almost all were hired immediately after graduation. These students had higher salaries compared to regular graduates.

NCCE estimates that there about fifty thousand employers in the United States participate in co-op education. Employers find co-op education beneficial because they can access well-prepared temporary employees. Less time and money is required for training. Ultimately, they are able to identify early on students who can be effective employees.

Even with these benefits for students and their co-op employers, it was reported that about a third of high school counselors have low awareness regarding co-op education programs. However, students can inquire at prospective universities to find out if they offer co-op education programs. More and more educational institutions are offering co-op education, among them University of Massachusetts, Kettering University and Northeastern University. NCCE also offers in their website a list of colleges and universities offering co-op programs.


References:

Bush, Melanie. Co-op jobs let engineering students take the real world for a test drive before graduation.

Rothstein, Randall. 5 Little-Known Secrets To Paying For College If You Don't Get Enough Financial Aid

National Commission for Cooperative Education. Best of Co-op.

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Benefits for Students.