By The main difference is structure. A co-op is usually several full time work terms alternating with study terms, built into your degree and typically adding up to a year or more of experience. An internship is usually one defined placement, often over a single summer. Co-ops are nearly always paid and usually carry academic credit. Internships vary on both.
I am a software engineering co-op student, so I have a stake in this, but the honest answer is that either can lead to a strong first job. The definitions below come from NACE in the US and CEWIL Canada, the group that sets co-op standards in Canada.
Side by side
| Co-op | Internship | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical length | Three or four work terms, a year or more in total | One placement, often a summer of about 10 to 12 weeks in the US |
| Schedule | Alternates full time work and full time study | Usually fits around your academic year |
| Pay | Virtually always paid | Often paid, sometimes not |
| Academic credit | Usually involved | Varies |
| Who arranges it | Your school's program, with its own job portal | Usually you, directly with the employer |
| Effect on graduation | Often extends your degree | Usually none |
What the official definitions say
NACE describes co-ops as multiple periods of work related to your major or career goal, typically alternating full time study and full time employment. It defines an internship as experiential learning that combines classroom knowledge with practical work in a professional setting, with a defined beginning and end, clear learning goals, and direct supervision. It also says an internship must not simply replace work a regular employee would do.
CEWIL Canada describes two co-op models: alternating academic and paid work terms, or several work terms back to back. Time in work terms must be at least 30% of the time spent in academic study for programs over two years, and 25% for shorter programs. It describes internships as usually one discipline specific placement, paid or unpaid and for academic credit, that can be any length but is typically 12 to 16 months.
That last number surprises many US readers. In Canadian university programs, an internship year is a very different thing from an American summer internship. Always check what a posting or program means by the word.
Employers mostly care what you built and shipped. The label on the placement matters much less than the work inside it.
Pay and job offers
Whichever you do, make it paid if you can. NACE's 2022 student survey found paid interns averaged 1.61 job offers, compared with 0.94 for unpaid interns and 0.77 for students with no internship. Its 2023 internship and co-op report found that 75.5% of hires who had interned were still with the organization after a year, against 51.5% of other hires, which explains why employers invest so much in these programs.
What paid roles actually offer is in how much do interns make, and when unpaid work is allowed is in are unpaid internships legal.
How to choose
- Choose co-op if you want several employers on your resume before graduating, you learn best by doing, you value a school run job portal and support, and a longer degree is acceptable.
- Choose internships if you want to graduate on the standard timeline, your field recruits on a fixed annual calendar, or your target programs are summer based.
- Do the math. Compare co-op earnings against extra tuition, fees, and any delay to your first full time salary.
- Check how your target employers hire. Summer programs in finance recruit very early, as covered in when to apply for summer internships. A co-op term in fall or winter may not line up with them.
How employers use both words
Many large employers use the terms loosely or offer both:
- Apple offers summer internships or co-ops during the academic year.
- Meta describes its software role as an internship or co-op with a minimum of 12 weeks.
- Amazon lists possible winter and fall terms beside summer.
- RBC groups them together as co-ops and internships.
- Shopify runs Dev Degree, which it calls an evolution of the traditional co-op.
If you are an international student, the placement type can also affect your authorization. See internships for international students.
Common questions
- What is the difference between an internship and a co-op?
- A co-op usually involves several full time work terms that alternate with study terms as part of your degree. NACE says the typical participant completes three or four terms, gaining a year or more of experience. An internship is usually a single, defined placement, often over a summer.
- Is a co-op better than an internship?
- Neither is better for everyone. A co-op gives you more total experience and several employers on your resume, but it can extend your degree. Internships fit a standard four year schedule and are common at programs recruiting a year ahead. Choose based on your program, finances, and field.
- Are co-ops paid?
- Almost always. NACE says virtually all co-op positions are paid and that the vast majority involve some form of academic credit. Internships vary more, and unpaid ones can raise legal questions.
- Does a co-op delay graduation?
- Often, because work terms take up terms you would otherwise spend studying. Many co-op programs are designed to take longer than a standard degree. Check your school's program plan, including tuition and fees during work terms.
- Can you do an internship during a co-op program?
- Usually your work terms are the co-op, and they need to be approved by your program. Summer roles found on your own may count if your program allows it. Ask your co-op office before accepting.
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