Cooperative Education Students (Professional Co-op)
Most questions about financial aid and co-op can be found on the Professional Co-op Frequently Asked Questions page.
Cooperative Education is a formal plan of education in which students alternate sessions of full-time work with sessions of full-time study. UMass Lowell Cooperative Education Program (Professional Co-Op) is a professional development experience, designed to combine practical on-the-job experiences with the university curriculum.
While Professional Co-op students are away from campus working they are still considered “full-time equivalent” students for the purposes of keeping student loans in deferment, insurance requirements, etc. However because they are not registered for the minimum 6 credit hours of course work, they do not qualify for financial aid.
Donors of private scholarships determine eligibility requirements for recipients of the awards. Students receiving a private non-UMass Lowell scholarship should check with the donor to confirm if they may continue to receive the award while on co-op.
All students are strongly encouraged to meet with their financial aid adviser either before or immediately after they accept their professional co-op position to ensure their financial aid will not be negatively affected by co-op participation.
UMass Lowell Merit Scholarships and Professional Co-op
Professional Co-op students who have their co-op entered onto their academic transcript prior to participating in the professional co-op do not need to request a deferment for their University of Massachusetts Lowell merit scholarship. Their scholarship will automatically be awarded upon their return to campus from their professional co-op as long as the renewal criteria is still met.
If the professional co-op is NOT entered onto your transcript prior to leaving for the co-op then the student must notify the Financial Aid Office in writing when they are participating in co-op and when they plan to return to campus. Only professional co-ops approved by the UMass Lowell Career Services Office can be used to defer a student’s UMass Lowell Merit scholarship.
University of Massachusetts Lowell merit scholarships are limited to 8 semesters of continuous enrollment. Typically professional co-op students participate in a professional co-op for one semester, either fall or spring.
Donors of private scholarships determine eligibility requirements for recipients of the awards. Students receiving a private non-UMass Lowell scholarship should check with the donor to confirm if they may continue to receive the award while on co-op.