UC climbs to No. 3 in the nation for co-ops and internships in 2027 U.S. News rankings

UC climbs to No. 3 in the nation for co-ops and internships in 2027 U.S. News rankings

University of Cincinnati marks 8th straight year in Top 5 for co-ops and internships

In U.S. News & World Report's 2027 Best Colleges rankings, the University of Cincinnati is ranked No. 3 in the nation for co-ops and internships - and No. 1 among public universities. This marks UC's eighth consecutive year in the Top 5.

UC's cooperative education (co-op) program helps students graduate with up to 1.5 years of paid work experience, strong job outcomes and co-op earnings that significantly offset the cost of a degree.

The new ranking follows a steady climb over the past three years, underscoring UC's reputation as a destination campus for hands-on learning, career readiness and return on investment (ROI).

"Co-op brings the classroom and the world of work together in a way that gives our students an extraordinary advantage," said UC President Neville G. Pinto. "Applying what they are learning in real-world settings, while earning income that helps pay for their education, allows them to graduate with the connections, confidence and competence to launch a successful career."

Founded in 1906 at UC, co-op integrates compensated, career-related work experiences directly into the curriculum. Students engage in both classroom study and paid work assignments at employers across Cincinnati, the region, the U.S. and the world. The result is students who graduate with both a degree and substantial work experience.

"This ranking speaks to our strong commitment to student professional development and to the power of partnership," said Michelle Clare, dean of the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies.

"We built co-op as an educational model over 100 years ago, and it has grown into a major driver of success for thousands of students and a talent pipeline for nearly 1,800 employers annually. We are incredibly proud to see our shared effort acknowledged on the national stage."

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UC's co-op and internship ranking at a glance

In the Co-ops/Internships category of the 2027 U.S. News rankings, UC is:

• No. 3 in the nation for co-ops and internships
• No. 1 among public colleges and universities
• Up from No. 4 in 2026 and No. 5 in 2025
• Ranked in the Top 5 for eight straight years

UC's co-op program is consistently cited as a key reason prospective students and families choose the university, as it combines academic strength, affordability and real-world experience.

JP Suozzi, CEAS '25 Trackside engineer, Honda Racing

Other UC programs on the rise in 2027 U.S. News rankings

In addition to its co-op and internship ranking, UC earned eight badge-eligible spots in U.S. News' 2027 Best Colleges lists. Several undergraduate programs saw notable gains:

• Undergraduate Business: No. 72, up from No. 88 in 2026
• Undergraduate Computer Science: No. 110, up from No. 154 in 2026
• Undergraduate Psychology: No. 207, up from No. 213 in 2026

UC also appears in the following 2027 categories:

• Best Value Schools
• Top Performer for Social Mobility
• National Universities
• Top Public Schools
• Undergraduate Engineering
• Undergraduate Nursing
• Best Colleges for Veterans

These rankings highlight UC's breadth of academic excellence across STEM, business, healthcare and more programs.

Photo/Jenna Adkins-Manuel/UC Marketing + Brand

UC's broader value: Affordability and access

UC's rankings come at a time when the university is also expanding access and affordability.

In the 2025-26 academic year, UC students earned $99.5 million in paid co-ops, with an average of $13,000+ per student per semester. That's $21.89 in hourly co-op earnings on average.

Combined with grants, scholarships and financial aid, co-op earnings help make UC one of the most affordable ways to earn a degree with substantial work experience.

The Bearcats Affordability Grant launched this year can make tuition free for many Ohio families. The grant offers tuition-free college for Pell-eligible Ohio students from families earning less than $75,000 per year. It's another way UC's model helps students graduate with less debt and more experience.

Even the Kelce brothers are talking about it: Legendary alumnus and NFL center Jason Kelce recently touted UC's co-op program and the Bearcats Affordability Grant on New Heights, a podcast he hosts with brother and fellow Bearcat, Travis Kelce.

A post shared by University of Cincinnati (@uofcincy)

Programs and opportunities like co-op and the Bearcats Affordability Grant help bolster UC's ranking as a Best Value School.

Co-op outcomes: How UC's No. 3 ranking translates into careers

What happens after co-op? Many UC students turn co-op roles into full-time offers, and employers consistently cite UC co-op students as a primary talent pipeline in fields like engineering, business, healthcare and technology.

• UC co-op students graduate with 12.2% less loan debt on average (Association of Public and Land-grant Universities)
• 93% of co-op participants report that their experience was good or excellent (APLU)
• 98% of students are employed or continuing education at the time of graduation

For recent UC alum JP Suozzi, co-ops at Honda lead to a full-time job offer. Now working at Honda Racing as a trackside engineer, Suozzi helped their race team win the Indy 500 this past spring.

"I'll have four years of experience at age 24," Suozzi says. "That's huge in this industry, just to get your foot in the door. I'm very fortunate to be where I am at my age."

Why co-ops and internships matter for students and families

For prospective students and families comparing colleges, the co-ops and internships ranking is a key indicator of how well a university connects education to careers.

At UC, students can complete multiple co-ops, often totaling up to 1.5 years of paid experience before graduation in some programs. Co-op earnings help offset the cost of living and tuition, contributing to UC's reputation as a high-ROI choice.

UC partners with nearly 1,800 employers across industries - from Fortune 500 companies and health systems to startups, nonprofits and public agencies.

Recent UC co-op students have worked at organizations including GE Aerospace, Kroger, P&G, Honda, Toyota, NASA, AtriCure, U.S. Bank and many others, often turning co-op roles into full-time offers.

Learn more about UC co-op

• Explore UC's co-op and experiential learning opportunities.
• Read more about co-op earnings and ROI at UC.
• View UC's full 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

Frequently asked questions about UC's co-op ranking

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