University of Cincinnati (UC)

At the University of Cincinnati, “students graduate with real work experience, strong professional skills, and clear direction for their future.” Many students are drawn to Cincy for its education culture, “where students bring insights from internships back into academic settings.” In short, these Bearcats—as students are known—”alternate between academic semesters [and] working paid, full-time positions in their industry,” and the school “really helps students obtain these co-ops and internships.” In turn, that work reaps immediate benefits in class: “I’m surrounded by individuals who think in terms of systems, data, and real-world impact. Classroom discussions are shaped by hands-on experience.” Students particularly appreciate these career-oriented opportunities and feel “the faculty truly want us to succeed.” One nursing student speaks to “the opportunity to have one-to-one clinical [experiences] with a nurse” at renowned institutions like UC Health and Cincinnati Children’s. Similarly, the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) keeps the focus on real-world application. Fine arts students rotate through different media modules, which “gets you into the studio to learn the basics of artistic creation, so you can learn early on if you want to pursue a specific form of art or not.” One design student says, “The one-of-a-kind co-op program has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and to experience my career firsthand while building my portfolio.” Overall, Bearcats really love that “the co-op program prepares students to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings, giving them a clear advantage in career readiness.”

The UC student body is a “vibrant community of the Midwest.” One Bearcat explains: “There truly is not a ‘typical’ University of Cincinnati student, and I find that beautiful. This makes it so easy to find yourself a home no matter who you are, what your background is, or what you look like.” Another student shares, “I have been given the privilege of meeting so many people from all around the world, in so many different walks of life…and have been able to grow and expand my horizons here through those connections.” Put another way, “I have found it really easy to open up to my peers and find friends in every single class that I’ve been in.” This seems true from biomedical to fine-arts majors: “students are incredibly hardworking and have so much grit. Students will tackle any barrier to make a better life for themselves and their community.” As one student puts it best: “I haven’t doubted for a second that UC was the right school for me, and I am so grateful to call this place my second home.”

“UC is a place where people want to stay on campus even when they don’t have classes. Just to walk around, find friends, get their work done, just overall be in the environment.” This welcoming vibe stems from the school’s design, “in that it is compact and walkable. You can go from one side of campus to the other at a leisurely stroll.” Walks, “especially in the evenings…[provide] a great, stunning view of the city.” Students also love to stay fit in the rec center, which features “six basketball courts, two floors worth of workout equipment, a pool, hot tub, and much more.” Tennis, football, and soccer are student favorites; rock climbing, slacklining, and mountaineering are also popular. During the day, the student-run Program and Activities Council puts on events that are “so fun. They do build-a-bear, pumpkin painting, tote bags, coffee, it’s the best.” Students enjoy the fact that “UC has a great music scene, and there are shows most nights of the week.” Overall, the “social life at UC is very much alive!”

One of the major claims to fame for the University of Cincinnati is its stake in cooperative education, which they pioneered in 1906 as a means for students to alternate between full-time classes and full-time fieldwork. Though the program is only mandatory for those enrolled in specific majors or colleges, the school encourages all students to participate in the Co-op for All program so that “all students will graduate with work experience that is career-oriented, transcripted, and compensated.” Students find that this Bearcat promise holds up, saying that it is “rewarding” to be “working in your desired field as an undergraduate” and that “the ability to ‘test out’ different aspects of your field while you are still at school is immensely helpful to finding what career truly fits a person.” Even more important to some is that this “not only helps pay for tuition but also leads to full-time job offers and a more appealing résumé.” In addition to this focus, students also have access to other career-building opportunities, be they through service learning, study abroad, or research. UC also provides fundamental services, from free professional headshots, career fairs, and career coaching to plenty of online tools for interview practice, networking, and job searches. Students also point to specific courses that may help, like when “doctors, surgeons, researchers, and engineers will come in and lecture on their careers, devices, scientific principles,” as well as provide “guided tours around the med campus and hospital.” Fifty-one percent of graduates report to Payscale that they find high satisfaction with their job, with the highest placement (or continuing education) rates for those in the colleges of Nursing (99%), Engineering (95%), Business (95%) and Education (94%).