Undergraduate Co-op
24,000
Average for 6-month engineering co-op
98
Average co-op employment rate
32
Countries with co-ops in 2023-24
Drexel is known for its experiential education, and most prominently, its co-op program. Co-op is an advantage because it enables you to gain perspective on what it means to be an engineer, gain perspective on how they work and an understanding of the facets of the many specializations you have to choose from. You will bring experience back to your classroom with a new understanding of the theory earned from the practical, hands-on experience – all prior to graduation.
Students alternate classes with full-time employment through University-approved employers. Generally, students are on co-op for a six-month period, alternating with six months of classroom study. Most students choose the 5-year, 3 co-op option, which allows them to try several options – from large organizations to small consulting firms, or research to field work. Majors like Construction Management have some unique experiences. Learn more about them.
The burgeoning global market by provides students with the opportunity to gain experience with an international co-op. Many students choose to get the experience go abroad for their co-op, developing cross-cultural skills and an understanding of our increasingly global society.
For more information, please visit the Steinbright Career Development Center, which is responsible for coordinating the university’s co-op program.
Graduate Co-op
For early-career students or those switching fields, Drexel’s Graduate Co-op lets you gain real-world experience in engineering or tech-related roles as part of your degree.
Learn More about Graduate Programs Co-Op
Drexel Engineering Co-ops
5/13/2025 12:00:00 AM
On co-op at Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Labs, Santiago Sosa is gaining hands-on experience in radar systems and applied research—work that’s shaping both his academic future and professional goals.
3/18/2025 12:00:00 AM
During his Drexel graduate co-op, Sravanth Kumar Kondapalli is applying engineering management skills to healthcare, studying AI-powered pacemakers and their impact on patient outcomes.
3/11/2025 12:00:00 AM
Merve Arslan’s passion for materials science led her to Kordsa, where she’s refining astronaut suit textiles, optimizing production, and gaining real-world experience in advanced manufacturing.
2/25/2025 11:28:50 AM
Aidan Cotton's lab experience in the Drexel Nanomaterials Institute lead to a co-op in Germany through the DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program.
2/12/2025 12:00:00 AM
Jipsa Thankachan gained industry experience through Drexel’s co-op program, applying her skills in water engineering and preparing for career growth in environmental infrastructure.
1/29/2025 12:00:00 AM
Patel knew that a gradate program that offered co-op could help him hit the ground running in his desired field.
1/15/2025 12:00:00 AM
From analyzing battery compositions to working with cell cultures, three co-op experiences help shape chemical engineer Su Nay Chi Htoo's professional trajectory.
1/13/2025 12:00:00 AM
At LF Driscoll, engineering student Lauren Wadie bridges classroom theory and construction practice, finding unexpected career paths in project management.
5/29/2024 12:00:00 AM
Maddie White, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, is making significant strides in the aerospace industry, having completed a co-op at Boeing and now on her second rotation at Lockheed Martin.
5/15/2024 12:00:00 AM
Drexel sophomore Prastuti Upadhyay's fascination with the nanoscale world has led her to explore the intricacies of materials science, from the classroom to real-world applications during her co-op experience.
4/19/2024 10:17:31 AM
Prithvi Ravi's graduate co-op program at the energy start-up, florrent, allowed him to make a direct impact on the company's direction to success.
2/24/2024 9:24:00 AM
Drexel's co-op program allowed junior mechanical engineering student, Munazzah Al Hasim, to live and work abroad.
2/6/2024 10:58:56 AM
“Initially, I was hesitant to enroll in a five-year program as opposed to a traditional four-year one,” she said, “but the benefits far outweigh the downside of graduating a year after the peers I finished high school with. I feel incredibly comfortable and confident joining the workforce, and I owe my assuredness to Drexel’s co-op program.”
12/21/2023 1:52:14 PM
High school chemistry struggles didn't deter Jacqueline Dyszel. Choosing chemical engineering at Drexel, she thrived in diverse co-op roles at Crayola, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Carisma Therapeutics, gaining confidence in her career path.
8/4/2023 9:59:45 AM
Grace had this to say about her experience at Drexel, “I came to Drexel with a very clear vision on what I wanted to get out of my three coop experiences and through diligence, I was able to execute that vision. That is what I find beautiful entering my senior year."
2/28/2023 12:00:00 AM
After two successful co-ops doing software testing, Fleming wanted to try her hand at software and front-end web development. She found the right opportunity at Nasdaq.
2/14/2023 12:00:00 AM
Toby Pham has made sure that his co-op experiences take advantage of the diversity of opportunities in his mechanical engineering major.
1/31/2023 12:00:00 AM
Luis Lu found a co-op experience that gave him a variety of tasks and affirmed his choice of major as a mechanical engineer.
1/17/2023 12:00:00 AM
Santiago Sosa wanted a co-op that would push him out of his comfort zone, but also one that would help him stoke his passion for engineering. He found both at Lockheed Martin.
11/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
Joy Olufemi is making sure that her experiences in and away from the classroom shape her future as a mechanical engineer.
9/20/2022 1:09:49 PM
Zoe Weiner, MS cybersecurity ’23, knew that she wanted a graduate program with real-world work experience in addition to classroom training.
6/21/2022 2:45:55 PM
Caroline Walwyn’s curiosity about how structures take shape led her to a co-op at Bancroft Construction, assisting on-site at a major renovation and addition project.
6/7/2022 8:53:10 AM
Construction management senior Imisioluwa Ademoyo spent her final co-op as a field engineer for Turner Construction.
5/24/2022 1:22:35 PM
Moustafa Agag has always had a passion for problem solving and improving people’s lives. His co-op at Johnson & Johnson is letting him do just that.
4/18/2022 10:05:00 AM
Photo contest winner and engineering major Joylin Jeffries traveled overseas during a break from her co-op.
3/28/2022 2:46:25 PM
After a detail-oriented co-op at Estee Lauder, Mansi Patel returns to class ready to hit the ground running.
2/1/2022 10:56:57 AM
Joshua Gonzalez is taking full advantage of Drexel’s flexible materials science graduate program, getting professional experience through co-op and an internship.
1/31/2022 4:25:04 PM
Her appreciation for outdoor spaces led Taylor LaFountain to a co-op with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
10/5/2021 11:59:36 AM
Cyra Gallano used what she learned on Market Street to secure a co-op at an MIT research lab.
9/8/2021 11:36:10 AM
As an employee of global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi, Anh Mai learned valuable skills that she’ll bring to her future career.
9/7/2021 4:43:33 PM
Benjamin Mellema found an ideal co-op partner and used his hands-on work experience to find a new application for his specialty.
7/15/2021 3:30:13 PM
Julia McCree has found the right co-op for her at one of the country’s largest transportation providers.
7/14/2021 11:47:00 AM
Bryan O’Toole, Meghan Wickersham and Daniel Inglis have found the same employer for their co-ops, but it’s helping each of them achieve a different goal.
7/13/2021 11:28:00 AM
Materials science and engineering major Brennan Coleman is using his co-op experience to expand on research he has already done on campus.
11/11/2020 9:50:10 AM
A co-op at Merck is giving three students an inside look at the long road that vaccines take from conception to patient delivery.
11/10/2020 11:12:27 AM
Brendan Tyrell, a second year mechanical engineering student, is spending his first co-op experience working with a company that hopes to protect millions of elderly people from falls.
10/28/2020 3:38:12 PM
Drexel Engineering students Shannon Simcox and Samuel Vaughan are learning how the Pennsylvania company creates their signature products.
8/4/2020 9:47:40 AM
Computer Engineering student Jui Hanamshet returns to Microsoft Corporation with a work experience turned remote.
8/3/2020 4:35:41 PM
Mechanical Engineering student Sarah Clancy begins her co-op experience launching rockets as an essential employee with Safran Aerospace.
8/4/2020 8:43:34 AM
Mechanical Engineering student Justin Lee channels his passion for automotive racing at BMW’s Open Innovation Department.
7/20/2020 10:46:00 AM
Things have changed in the workplace for many, but work is still needed and the insights are real.
6/9/2020 5:44:40 PM
Environmental engineering senior Marina D’Souza discusses cross-cultural encounters during her time in the Drexel co-op program.
4/15/2020 4:44:16 PM
A student in the peace engineering program talks about her experience in Engineers Without Borders.
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