Co-op – Current Students

Students can participate in a co-op experience aligning with one of these four cycles:

• January-June (6 month)
• July-December (6 month)
• June-August (3 month)
• January-April (4 month) Accounting students only

Our popular 6 month co-op will most likely add one additional semester. Two 3-month summer co-ops will not add length to a student’s academic program. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisors to understand how co-op will fit into their academic plan. 

Students cannot take any courses during business hours while on co-op. The student’s classroom for the semester is their work site, so the co-op work experience should be their academic priority. If students decide to take a course outside of business hours, it’s important to note that they will be charged tuition for whatever course(s) they enroll in. 

Students are able to apply to the program as early as their second semester first year, making them eligible to take the Professional Development Seminar in their first semester sophomore year. Transfer students are eligible to apply to the program in their first semester at UMass Lowell.

Yes! Students are provided resources to help with their search, such as access to events open only to co-op students, as well as the use of Handshake, UMass Lowell’s job search platform. However, students are encouraged to use their own professional networks to search for co-ops in addition to Handshake. In order for a position to count as a co-op, it must be full-time, paid, and related to the student’s program of study. 

Students who have successfully completed PDS with a grade of “C” or better are able to join the co-op program as long as they still meet eligibility requirements. We strongly encourage students to work with their academic or faculty advisor to determine how co-op will fit into their pathway before starting their co-op search. Students who decide to join the co-op program will join the Co-op Search Network. To join, Contact the Associate/Assistant Director of Co-op for your college. They will provide instructions on how to proceed.

Your next steps depend on your current status in the Professional Co-op Program:

• If you are currently active in the co-op program: Contact your assigned co-op advisor (listed in your NOW Dashboard). They will guide you through the next steps and any required paperwork.
• If you completed the Professional Development Seminar (PDS) but are no longer active in the program: Contact the Associate/Assistant Director of Co-op for your college. They will provide instructions on how to proceed.
• If you are an undergraduate student in a co-op-eligible major who has not taken PDS: Contact the Associate/Assistant Director of Co-op for your college. They will provide instructions on how to proceed.
• If you are an undergraduate student in a major that does not have a structured co-op program: Contact the Associate Director of Co-op and review the process for students who wish to complete a co-op while enrolled in a non-co-op major.

Yes! If desired, students can complete more than one co-op experience, but they are encouraged to connect with their academic advisor to discuss their academic pathway. Students must always return to a semester of full-time courses and take an Assessment course after each co-op experience. If a student decides to participate in a second co-op, they do not need to take the Professional Development Seminar again. 

Students can choose when they go out on co-op, but they are encouraged to connect with their academic advisor to discuss the best time in their academic plan to go out. It’s recommended that students take the Professional Development Seminar the semester before their first co-op, so students are encouraged to apply to the Program two semesters before they anticipate going out on co-op. 

Yes! Students who register for co-op will retain their full-time student status. Students may also continue to live in University housing. See Financial FAQs section for more details.

Companies retain full decision-making power over who they interview and hire. Students in the program who work closely with their Co-op Advisor have been extremely successful in securing a co-op. The program is designed to actively coach students with their resume writing, interviewing, and networking skills to give them the tools for a successful job search now and in the future.

Students do not pay tuition while on co-op. However, a modest co-op registration fee of $40 is charged to cover the enrollment and registration for maintaining a student’s full-time status while they are on a work experience. The fees are charged by the School for Graduate, Online & Professional Studies and the fees are the same regardless of co-op cycle. The co-op experience is then recorded on a student’s academic transcript.

As of Spring 2022, average earnings for a 6 month co-op are $24,000. Average earnings can vary by major, industry, and role.

Co-op work experiences are considered academic experiences but are not credit-bearing. Students in the Professional Co-op Program earn academic credit in the prep course taken before going out on co-op and in the post co-op reflection seminar required the semester the student returns to campus after their co-op.

Students are encouraged to check in with The Solution Center for any financial aid questions. You can also find answers to many common questions about financial aid and co-op on The Solution Center website.

Yes! Students maintain their full-time status while on co-op, which allows them to continue living in University housing if desired. Students will be responsible for paying room and board. 

Yes. Residence Life offers summer housing for summer students including those on a summer-only co-op. The deadline for housing applications for summer is typically May 1st. Residence Life recommends applying early for summer housing as availability is limited. The locations for summer, rates, and meal plan costs are listed on the summer housing application located on the Housing Portal. Please contact the office of Residence Life for more information.

Yes. After reporting your co-op via the link and instructions provided by your Co-op Advisor, cancel your housing on the housing portal at https://uml.edu/housingportal. There you must complete the housing cancellation form and list the reason for cancelling as “internship off-campus”. The Co-op staff will provide Residence Life with a list of all Professional Co-op students; if you are not on this list, you will be asked to provide proof of co-op.

Students who are going on an approved Professional Co-op will not be charged cancellation fees pr penalties for the semester they are on co-op as long as they properly indicate their housing cancellation according to the appropriate timelines and guidelines via the online housing portal.

Residence Life will assign you to housing upon your return from co-op based on availability. Residence Life cannot guarantee a specific space or roommate for you. If you have applied for housing for the fall semester (applications due the prior March), you will be able to take part in the room selection process just like all the current residents, as long as your application is completed by March 31st. If you have applied for housing for the spring semester, Residence Life will do their best to accommodate your preferences.

When you know you are going to be going on Co-op for the fall semester, fill out a housing cancellation form. There is a drop-down selection on the form to defer to the spring semester. If you KNOW you will not be living on campus in the spring (i.e. have an off- campus apartment), do not fill out a housing application as you will be charged a cancellation fee and penalty depending on the date of your cancellation. It would be helpful to write in the notes section that you are going on co-op.