The Differences and Similarities of Co-ops and Internships

RIT is ranked as one of the best schools in the country for cooperative education and employment placements after graduating, with over 95% of students finding relevant jobs in their desired fields. Cooperative education is the answer to the classic riddle that students face; employers want candidates who have work experience, but how are you supposed to gain experience when you spent time earning a degree and couldn’t work full-time? Instead of graduating with no work experience, RIT has built cooperative education into its undergraduate programs so that you can work with potentially multiple employers throughout your degree and learn the day-to-day basics of your field.

Colloquially, the words co-op (short for cooperative education) and internship are used interchangeably due to their similar connotations. However, there is an important distinction between the two. Co-op refers to full-time, entry-level appointments for “blocks” of time equal to the length of a semester. One block can be the fall, spring, or summer semester, and a double block combines any two consecutive semesters. You are treated like a standard employee and given meaningful projects to apply and enhance skills learned from your coursework. Most importantly, you are paid for your time and are typically eligible for overtime pay. The exact conditions of your employment will depend on the offer you receive.

Internships can vary from only a few hours per week to full-time positions. Depending on your industry, internships are standard for securing a salaried role. An internship doesn’t have to be paid, and even if it is, the compensation may not be as robust as a co-op. Compensation refers to the entire umbrella of benefits you can receive from an employer, such as health insurance, retirement account savings matches, paid time off, sick leave, holiday pay, and more; not just your hourly rate. Overall, co-ops are typically more robust than internships through providing a more complete picture of how your industry operates on a daily basis and contributing to a greater variety of projects. You will receive credit at RIT regardless of what type of work experience you complete.

Personally, I have completed both a double-block co-op at Wegmans Food Markets and one block internship at Constellation for a total of three blocks so far. In my experience, there was no difference between the job labeled as co-op and the other as an internship. They were both full-time, compensated with a competitive hourly rate, and I was given meaningful projects at each job. Additionally, for my internship I received a housing stipend from the company to offset my relocation expenses from Rochester. However, my perspective is influenced by the fact that I’m an engineering major, where both types of work are typically paid. Companies in my industry utilize the words co-op and intern interchangeably, and the word intern does not have a worse connotation. Your mileage may vary at RIT depending on what major you select and what companies you receive offers from. 

The difference between co-ops and internships are subtle, but can make a tremendous impact on your work experience. Make sure to read the job description carefully before applying, and read every single word on the offer if you receive one. You need to know what you’re signing up for!