What is Co-op?
Lindner students explore career options, and build their skills, resumes and networks through co-ops — paid, professional work experiences.
As the founder of cooperative education and a leading co-op business school, UC has exhibited its prowess for connecting students with employer partners via multiple, paid work experiences related to the student's area of study. Lindner is proud to further this proven career-building tradition.
Alex Draginoff, BBA ’24 (left), and Megan Grill, BBA ’25, on co-op with Delta Air Lines.
Co-ops are launchpads that supply students with a competitive advantage when entering the job market. Notably, 93% of Lindner undergraduate students who participated in a full- or part-time co-op over the recent academic year obtained a full-time job within three months of graduation. Lindner co-op students also earned more than $12.5 million during the 2022-23 academic year.
Co-op also provides numerous benefits to our employer partners. By bringing students into the fold as a co-op, employers create an important talent pipeline. Students offer a fresh perspective and generate new ideas using knowledge gained in the classroom and through other professional experiences.
Furthermore, co-op helps to mend the skills gap, ensuring future hires have the experience necessary to fill important roles in organizations. Students also learn what they don’t want to do, while building confidence and resilience through their challenges.
In fall 2023, Lindner implemented a new universal co-op program. Once fully enacted, all students will be required to complete a baseline of two co-ops, with the minimum number of experiences needed depending on the student’s specific circumstances.
Lindner students have gained real-world professional experience in co-op and internship programs at companies including, but not limited to:
- altafiber (formerly Cincinnati Bell)
- AMEND Consulting
- American Financial Group
- Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel
- BMW
- Boston Consulting Group
- Burke. Inc.
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
- Deloitte Services LLP
- Delta Air Lines
- EY
- Fidelity Investments
- Fifth Third Bank
- First Financial Bank
- GE Aviation
- Great American Insurance Group
- Hershey's
- KAO Brands
- Kellogg's
- KPMG
- Kroger
- Land O'Lakes
- Johnson & Johnson
- Microsoft
- NASA
- NBCUniversal
- Nestle Waters
- Nielsen
- Procter & Gamble
- PwC
- Sherwin-Williams
- The Walt Disney Company
- tiER1 Performance Solutions
- Total Quality Logistics
- Toyota
- Under Armour
- U.S. Playing Card Company
- Vantiv
- Warner Bros.
- Warner Music Group
Your Co-op Questions, Answered
Current and prospective Lindner students should check out recent episodes of Bearcats Mean Business, Lindner's official podcast, to learn more about co-oping at Lindner, the services offered by Lindner Career Services and more.
What is co-op, and how can I get one? What makes co-op at Lindner unique? How can a student expand their network without co-op or job experience? Lindner Career Services Assistant Director Bella Gullia answers these questions and more..
Marketing and business analytics student Audrey Allen discusses her co-op with Lindner’s undergraduate advising office; her path to Lindner; adjusting to college life; dos and don’ts about the college application process; and relays cherished memories from her first year at Lindner/UC.
Career Services is Here to Help
As experts in linking top, diverse talent student talent with distinguished employers, Lindner Career Services can answer questions related to co-op. Connect with a career coach or explore the resources available for students and employers.