Internship vs. Co-op: What’s the Difference?


Both internships and cooperative education (co-op) experiences offer students valuable, hands-on learning that bridges the gap between academics and the workplace. While they share similarities, each offers distinct benefits in terms of structure, duration, and integration with academic programs.

To help you better understand which option aligns with your goals—whether you're a student, employer, or advisor—use the interactive table below.

Want to Get Hired?

Recruiters will draw approximately 51 percent of their new college hires from their internship and co-op programs.
*NACE, 2023

Compare Key Features

Toggle between the “Internships” and “Co-ops” tabs to compare key features and make informed decisions.

  • Open to students who have completed at least 15 credit hours at KSU with a minimum GPA of 2.5 
  • Typically one semester in duration 
  • Available year-round, either full-time or part-time 
  • Must be paid if hosted by a for-profit organization
  • Open to students who have completed at least 15 credit hours at KSU with a minimum GPA of 2.5 
  • Typically span 2–3 semesters 
  • Must be paid if hosted by a for-profit organization 
  • Available year-round, with two format options: 
    • Parallel Co-op: Students work part-time (approx. 20 hours/week) while attending classes, typically over three consecutive semesters 
    • Alternating Co-op: Students alternate between full-time work (approx. 40 hours/week) and full-time academic semesters. A minimum of two work semesters is required, offering flexibility for students to live and work in different locations