What is Co-op?
Lindner's bachelor degree programs require co-op experience, which means students graduate with multiple, paid professional experiences.
Lindner’s experiential learning toolbox empowers students to tackle real-world problems, learning-by-doing and putting theory into practice. Cooperative education, or co-op, is UC's gold standard for experiential learning. At the university that founded co-op — and is consistently ranked Top 5 in the nation for co-op — students gain the skills, confidence and connections to launch their business careers.
During the 2023-24 academic year alone, Lindner students completed more than 1,000 co-ops, with nearly 500 companies hiring co-op students. Lindner's continued excellence in co-op is sustained in large part due to the nonprofits, small- to-mid-sized businesses and large corporations that team up with Lindner to take advantage of the college's rich talent pipeline.
Full-time or part-time, hybrid or on-site, driven by relevant seasonality or business need, businesses benefit from Lindner co-op students, who in turn graduate with a degree and a resume.
Lindner's universal co-op program requires bachelor's degree-seeking students to complete multiple, paid work experiences. Universal co-op is designed to complement students' academic schedule, and this, along with support from Lindner's award-winning Career Services team, ensures that Lindner students bolster their networks, resumes and skills through co-op.
Co-op Benefits
- Higher Salary Post-Graduation. Students who co-op will typically earn more than students who do not co-op.
- Real-World Application. Co-op creates an opportunity to put classroom learnings into practice, allowing for exponential growth and professional development.
- Career Ready. Co-ops enhance academic experiences and provide assurance to a future employer that you are career-ready.
- Employability. Co-op will expose you to practical work experience, stronger networks and the development of professional skills, making you more marketable when you graduate.
- Variety of Options: EEPs and Co-ops. EEPs are alternative, project-based experiences that students can do instead of a co-op experience with a company.
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
This co-op was an amazing experience from both a personal and professional perspective. I was able to work closely with a small team on various research tasks related to the global infrastructure market.
Eugene Burse, BBA ‘26 Equity Analyst Intern, Principal Asset Management
Hear From Linder Grad Who Went From Co-op to Career Ready
How does a co-op experience turn into a full-time opportunity? On this episode of the Bearcats Mean Business podcast, 2024 Lindner grad Benjamin Seid shares how his time at UC — and particularly his co-ops — equipped him with the hard and soft skills to thrive in the professional world.
Career Services is Here to Help
As experts in linking top 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.