University of Cincinnati

Beyond the four walls of a classroom
Students launch history-making rockets from the California coast, dive underwater to help NASA train astronauts, turn fryer fat into fuel, and develop artificial intelligence able to beat tactical experts in US Air Force combat simulations. These are the anything-but-routine, real-world challenges and opportunities students find at the University of Cincinnati in the Engineering and Science disciplines—all made possible through UC’s internationally renowned co-op program.

Cincinnati invented cooperative education in 1906, and we remain the university of choice for students who want the benefits of combining classroom scholarship with real, paid experience in their field of study. We call it “putting education into action,” and it’s the cornerstone of UC’s academic strength.

UC Engineering and Science students are frequently tapped to take on big jobs involving real trust, real responsibility—and real money. That’s because 1,800 international employers in 22 countries annually partner with the University to provide meaningful co-op opportunities. It’s all part of the largest co-op program at any public university in the United States—the third largest in the world—consistently ranked among the top of co-ops and internships.

UC students earn a collective $66 million annually on co-op assignments working for local, regional, national, and international employers such as Apple, Disney, General Electric, Honda, Kroger, NASA, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, SpaceX, and many others. Today, our students are able to take co-op and experience-based learning to the next level. In partnership with students from other disciplines and with support from the 1819 Innovation Hub and the Entrepreneurship Bearcat Launchpad (the nation’s first student-led business accelerator), UC students are able to “invent the world” and pursue their entrepreneurial passions. Such forward-leaning collaborations and partnerships are part of the reason Cincinnati was named among the world’s 100 most innovative universities, according to Reuters.

Live well
This “next, now” thinking goes hand-in-hand with UC’s cutting-edge campus, which The New York Times calls the “most ambitious campus design program in the country.” Our A+ architecture, state-of-the-art labs, and pedestrian-friendly green spaces have all been designed to support intellectual curiosity and promote a healthy social culture. Our award-winning campus is located less than two miles from Cincinnati’s vibrant downtown. As the center of culture and commerce for a region of more than two million people, the Queen City is an important hub—home to nine Fortune 500 companies and one of the most vibrant start-up ecosystems in the nation. People here experience big-city amenities—professional sports teams, major museums, pristine parks, and cultural attractions—while enjoying small-town friendliness and a collaborative vibe.

Recognition and support
Throughout their academic careers, UC Science and Engineering students earn many external honors and awards, including Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, and Schwarzman Scholarships, as well as grants and research project support from internal and external entities as varied as the National Science Foundation, US Departments of Defense and Energy, the National Geographic Society, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and many others.

Both undergraduate and graduate students receive funding and mentoring to pursue research through specialized programs like ROSE (Research, Observation, Service, and Education Experiences), WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), and SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship). Such opportunities allow students to contribute directly to innovation, build a meaningful portfolio, and engage with faculty and other thought leaders outside the classroom.