Cooperative education and employment outcomes for post-graduation business students

This research study examined the post-graduation employment outcomes of business undergraduate college students who have participated in a cooperative education (co-op) program. The co-op students' post-graduate employment outcomes were compared to those of non-program (co-op) participants. This data was gathered from the Sam M. Walton College of Business Career Development Center's cooperative education program. The population sample included 184 college business graduates, from the years 2006 through 2008, from the Sam M. Walton College of Business, including 92 former co-op participants and 92 non-program participants.An independent samples t-test was conducted to evaluate post-graduation starting salaries of co-op participants and non-program participants. No statistically significant difference was found from the data, (t (91) = 0.64, p<.05). Interviews of co-op employers were conducted to gather data about their recruiting and hiring practices, as well as their purpose for being involved in co-op programs. An extensive literature review includes a historical summary of cooperative education, current co-op models and employers' interests and motivation for program participation.