Computing Co-op

Set Yourself Apart

What’s different about an RIT computing education? It’s the opportunity to co-op and intern with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world experience from full-time, paid cooperative education and internships.

Stand out from your competitors with career experience before you graduate.

100^%

Co-op Participation

All computing majors participate in co-op

93^%

Undergraduate Outcomes Rate

Computing majors employed, in grad school, or pursuing military service or volunteering within six months of graduation.

5^th

Among top schools for co-op or internship programs

U.S. News & World Report, 2024

^$22.64

Average Hourly Wage

Across All Computing Co-ops

6 Reasons Why Co-ops and Internships Launch Successful Computing Careers

High Employment
There’s a reason 93% of RIT’s computing students are employed or in grad school within six months of graduation. It’s all due to co-op. With co-op required for all computing majors, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience that builds a resume that isn’t the least bit padded.

Gain Career Experience Early and Often
Computing majors can begin co-ops and internships as early as the summer after their second year. You’ll begin to apply your knowledge early in your course work, which broadens your knowledge and allows you to see connections between class work and real-world applications.

Explore a Range of Computing Careers
With up to four blocks of co-op you can explore different career paths, try different industries, and test out work environments. You’ll not only gain hands-on experience, but you’ll learn more about the types of work you love and environments where you’ll thrive.

Earn a Full-Time Salary
Earn a full-time salary as you gain experience on co-op. This can be used to support your tuition and help offset college expenses, or it can set you up for financial independence after graduation

Connections That Lead to Success
You’ll interact with engineering industry experts, explore work environments, broaden your hands-on knowledge, connect with professionals and alumni, and apply your skills in real world settings. You’ll amass solid, career-focused experience that positions you for outstanding employment opportunities.

Develop Your Soft-Skills
RIT will teach you the technical and analytical skills that make you a competitive job applicant. But the soft skills–leadership, decisiveness, conflict-resolution, etiquette awareness, professionalism–those are the competencies that truly set you apart, and the skills that can only be learned on the job.

Here’s just a sample of some of the places around the world where you might find yourself working.

Amazon

Apple

Cisco

Datto

Electronic Arts

Epic Games

Federal Bureau of Investigation

National Security Agency

PayPal

Raytheon Technologies

Tesla

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

WB Games

Learn more about RIT’s Outstanding Co-op Employers

Sample Computing Programs Co-op Schedules

Five Year Programs

Our five-year programs (computer science, software engineering) require three blocks of co-op.

Sample Schedule

Four Blocks (48 weeks)

	Fall	Spring	Summer
Year 1	Classes	Classes
Year 2	Classes	Classes	Co-op
Year 3	Classes	Co-op
Year 4	Classes	Co-op
Year 5	Classes	Classes

Four Year Programs

Our four-year programs (computing and information sciences, cybersecurity, game design and development, human-centered computing, new media interactive development, web and mobile computing) require two blocks of co-op.

Sample Schedule

Two Blocks (24 weeks)

	Fall	Spring	Summer
Year 1	Classes	Classes
Year 2	Classes	Classes	Co-op
Year 3	Classes	Classes	Co-op
Year 4	Classes	Classes