Northeastern University is the best college for internships, ranking #1 in the U.S. News 2027 Co-ops/Internships list, with Drexel University at #2 and the University of Cincinnati at #3. The University of Cincinnati is the top public university on the list.
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Answrs VerdictThe co-op benchmark.
U.S. News rank: #1 in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Boston, MassachusettsFounded: 1898Type: PrivateUndergraduate enrollment: 17,130 students (fall 2025)Co-op participation: 93% of undergraduates take part in cooperative education
Northeastern, a private university in Boston founded in 1898, is #1 in the U.S. News Co-ops/Internships ranking, and 93% of its undergraduates take part in cooperative education.
Go ifPaid, full-time co-op as the core of the degree
Skip ifYou want a classic campus with no work rotations built in
Why #1 over #2: Its #1 rank sits above Drexel’s #2.
2
Drexel University (Philadelphia)
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Answrs VerdictPaid co-op rotations.
U.S. News rank: #2 in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaFounded: 1891Type: PrivateUndergraduate enrollment: 10,879 students (fall 2025)Co-op length: Up to 18 months of paid, full-time work experience before graduating
Drexel in Philadelphia, founded in 1891, is #2, and says students can gain up to 18 months of paid, full-time work experience before graduating.
Go ifPaid, full-time work experience before graduating
Skip ifYou want to finish in four straight years of classes
Why #2 over #3: Its #2 rank sits above Cincinnati’s #3.
3
University of Cincinnati
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Answrs VerdictThe public-university co-op leader.
U.S. News rank: #3 in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Cincinnati, OhioFounded: 1819Type: PublicUndergraduate enrollment: 34,447 students (fall 2025)Co-op history: First university to implement a co-operative education model
The University of Cincinnati, founded in 1819, is #3 and the top public university on the list; it was the first university to implement a co-operative education model.
Go ifThe top public school for co-ops and internships
Skip ifYou want a small, quiet campus
Why #3 over #4: Its #3 rank sits above Georgia Tech’s #4.
4
Georgia Institute of Technology
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Answrs VerdictTech co-ops with in-state value.
U.S. News rank: #4 in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Atlanta, GeorgiaFounded: 1885Type: PublicUndergraduate enrollment: 21,028 students (fall 2025)Tuition and fees: $12,134 in-state, $36,120 out-of-state
Georgia Tech in Atlanta, founded in 1885, is #4, with tuition and fees of $12,134 in-state and $36,120 out-of-state.
Go ifA public school ranked #4 for co-ops and internships
Skip ifYou are set on the humanities
Why #4 over #5: Its #4 rank sits above RIT’s #5.
5
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Answrs VerdictCo-ops built into the curriculum.
U.S. News rank: #5 in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Rochester, New YorkFounded: 1829Type: PrivateUndergraduate enrollment: 14,145 students (fall 2025)Co-op scale: More than 4,500 students in co-op and internship positions with more than 3,400 hiring organizations in the last year
RIT in Rochester, New York, founded in 1829, is #5; in the last year more than 4,500 students held co-op and internship positions with more than 3,400 hiring organizations.
Go ifCo-ops and internships open to all majors
Skip ifYou want a school with few work placements
Why #5 over #6: Its #5 rank sits above Purdue’s #6.
6
Purdue University
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Answrs VerdictBig-campus STEM co-ops.
U.S. News rank: #6 in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: West Lafayette, IndianaFounded: 1869Type: PublicUndergraduate enrollment: 43,633 students (fall 2025)Engineering co-ops and internships: Over 80% of graduating Purdue Engineering students completed at least one co-op or internship in 2026
Purdue in West Lafayette, founded in 1869, is #6; over 80% of its graduating engineering students completed at least one co-op or internship in 2026.
Go ifEngineering co-ops and internships at scale
Skip ifYou want a small school
Why #6 over #7: Its #6 rank sits above Berea’s #7.
7
Berea College
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Answrs VerdictA work college.
U.S. News rank: #7 in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Berea, KentuckyFounded: 1855Type: PrivateUndergraduate enrollment: 1,529 students (fall 2025)Work program: All students work on campus 10 or more hours per week
Berea College in Kentucky, founded in 1855, is #7; all students work on campus 10 or more hours per week.
Go ifEvery student works as part of college life
Skip ifYou want a large university
Why #7 over #8: Its #7 rank sits above Carnegie Mellon’s #8.
8
Carnegie Mellon University
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Answrs VerdictTop national rank on this list.
U.S. News rank: #8 in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaFounded: 1900Type: PrivateUndergraduate enrollment: 7,728 students (fall 2025)U.S. News national rank: #14 in National Universities (tie)
Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, founded in 1900, is #8 here and #14 in National Universities (tie).
Go ifThe strongest national rank on this list
Skip ifYou want a school with a small student body
Why #8 over #9: Its #8 rank sits above the #9 tie.
9
Babson College
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Answrs VerdictThe business-school pick.
U.S. News rank: #9 (tie) in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Babson Park, MassachusettsFounded: 1919Type: PrivateUndergraduate enrollment: 2,853 students (fall 2025)Focus: Private business school specializing in entrepreneurship education
Babson College, a private business school specializing in entrepreneurship education, is tied at #9 and was founded in 1919.
Go ifBusiness and entrepreneurship internships
Skip ifYou want engineering or the sciences
Why #9 over #10: It ties Denison at #9 and is listed first alphabetically.
10
Denison University
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Answrs VerdictThe liberal-arts entry.
U.S. News rank: #9 (tie) in Co-ops/Internships, 2027Location: Granville, OhioFounded: 1831Type: PrivateUndergraduate enrollment: 2,458 students (fall 2025)U.S. News liberal arts rank: #31 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
Denison University in Granville, Ohio, founded in 1831, is tied at #9 with Babson and is #31 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie).
Go ifA small liberal arts college in Ohio
Skip ifYou want a big research university
How we ranked these
We kept the U.S. News Best Colleges 2027 Co-ops/Internships order, which comes from nominations by college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions. Babson and Denison tie at #9. U.S. News does not publish a placement rate or percentage for this ranking, so co-op and internship figures shown come from the schools themselves where they publish one. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best college for internships?
Northeastern University is #1 in the U.S. News 2027 Co-ops/Internships ranking, ahead of Drexel University at #2 and the University of Cincinnati at #3.
What is the best public university for co-ops and internships?
The University of Cincinnati, ranked #3 overall in the U.S. News 2027 Co-ops/Internships list, is the highest-ranked public university.
How does U.S. News rank internship programs?
U.S. News asked college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions to nominate up to 15 institutions with outstanding internship or co-op programs; only schools with 10 or more nominations are ranked.
Which schools tie at #9?
Babson College and Denison University are tied at #9 in the 2027 Co-ops/Internships ranking.
Undergraduate enrollment (fall 2025) at a glance
Berea College1,529 students
Denison University2,458 students
Babson College2,853 students
Carnegie Mellon University7,728 students
Drexel University (Philadelphia)10,879 students
Rochester Institute of Technology14,145 students
Northeastern University17,130 students
Georgia Institute of Technology21,028 students
University of Cincinnati34,447 students
Purdue University43,633 students
Undergraduate enrollment (fall 2025), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
