Welcome

Co-op is short for cooperative education, a nationally recognized academic training program that involves partnerships between students, employers, and IPFW. This academic enhancement program gives you the opportunity to explore how classroom theory relates to actual employment opportunities, while you remain an IPFW student. The Program is highly successful and has a proven history of benefits to students, employers, and IPFW.

• 2,231 co-ops worked with 242 employers in northeast Indiana, Alabama, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Tennessee in the past 20 years of the Program
• 94% of IPFW Co-op students persist to graduation 
• 91% of IPFW Co-op graduates land career–related jobs within 1-2  months of graduation
• 75% of IPFW Co-ops accept full-time career-related jobs with Co-op employers
• 5-25% above entry level salary is what IPFW Co-op graduates can expect when they enter the workforce

You receive a competitive wage and earn academic credit while working two or more semesters with an employer from the Greater Fort Wayne area or you can go to another state. The choice is yours.

Local employers provide outstanding co-op opportunities in the Schools of Arts and Sciences; Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science; Richard T. Doermer Business and Management Sciences; and the Division of Organizational Leadership and Supervision.

Faculty co-op coordinators approve all employers who request students. Also they approve your application based on departmental criteria. Upon approval, you are ready to begin the interview process.

History of Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education was created at The University of Cincinnati in 1906 as a new teaching methodology in its College of Engineering,   Twenty seven  engineering students were sent into turn-of-the-century mines and mills to see what lessons they’d learn from the paid positions that had been arranged for them.  This program changed twentieth century education.

Today, hundreds of thousands of student, studying everything from accounting  to zoology continue the ever-expanding educational experiment, combining  traditional classroom learning with paid, professional experience directly related  to their majors, just like those first University of Cincinnati students.                   

University of Cincinati Co-op Students in 1906

The past 100 years have demonstrated the many benefits of cooperative education. In addition to income to  help offset the cost of their education, co-op students build a competitive resume, have higher retention rates, graduate in larger numbers, and make successful transitions into meaningful and rewarding careers.  Learn more at Co-op Centennial Celebration.   

Changes Related to Co-op Wages and Financial Aid

Significant changes have been made to the federal regulations, which could have a significant impact on those co-op students who receive financial aid. Beginning with the FAFSA application for the 2010-11 academic year, co-op wages reported on a student's 2009 IRS return will be subtracted from any other earnings the student might have had for that tax year. This is the same practice as that which applies to Federal College Work-Study wages. Effectively, a co-op student will be eligible for a greater amount financial aid, and more students will be eligible for aid as well.