CO-OP Facts & Statistics

Hiring A Co-op Student

Hiring a Widener co-op student is easy and customized to fit your needs. Simply put, you interview the students that you are most interested in, and make an offer to those that you feel are the best fit.

Cycle 1 - Resumes sent via email by late May
Cycle 2 - Resumes sent via email by late August
Cycle 3 - Summer Cycle Resumes sent via email by late January

Interviews

Once resumes are received, interviews may begin immediately for most majors. Accounting student interviews have specific deadlines and are listed on the co-op website. Employers contact the co-op office with names of students to interview and a job description and the office coordinates the interview schedules either on or off campus.

Offers

Offers may be extended as soon as a decision has been made. Employers are required to contact the Co-op office before extending the offer to students and must include salary and offer deadline details.

Average Co-op Pay

Competitive pay rates will vary by student class standing, the amount of co-op experience, and co-op cycle. Typically students on the first co-op cycle, with no previous experience, will often earn less than the stated averages below. Students participating in the second co-op term, with previous co-op experience, will often earn more than the stated averages below.

Accounting - $14.90
Business (Non-Accounting) - $12.30
Chemical Engineering - $18.35
Civil Engineering - $13.00
Computer Science - $13.00
Electrical Engineering - $16.29
Mechanical Engineering - $15.08
*Salary data is not yet available for new majors

Employer Responsibilities

Since the program is a form of experiential education we ask that all employers treat the relationship as mutually beneficial. We want employers to benefit as well as having the student learn by applying classroom learning to the work place.

• All employers must complete an online Employer Agreement.
• Allow the co-op staff to conduct an on-site visit with the student and supervisor.
• Supervisor must complete an online student evaluation.
• There is no obligation for full-time employment after the co-op term.

What is the difference between a co-op and an internship at Widener University?
Internships are part-time or for credit and are handled by each academic department in cooperation with the Career Office (CAPS). Cooperative Education is coordinated through the Co-op Office and is an optional academic program where students work full-time, are paid, and do not receive academic credit. All students must meet minimum GPA standards and credit hours to enroll in the co-op program.

How many hours can a Co-op student work?
All students are required to be full-time, 35 hours a week or more.

How much are students expected to make per hour?
Students are to be paid a fair market wage for their co-op position. See the Average Co-op Pay section for more detailed information about salary.

Are students eligible for employee benefits such as 401(k) and health insurance?
Legally no, and we do not require benefits to be granted to students. Specifically, once an employee attains 1,000 hours of employment a pension must be established. However, employees classified as "part-time" or "other" are not counted towards overall rules mandating pensions.