Massachusetts Funds Paid Co-op Programs at Two Campuses
State grants of $60,000 will help UMass Dartmouth and Worcester State University build paid cooperative education programs.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Massachusetts awarded $60,000 in grants to UMass Dartmouth and Worcester State University to develop paid cooperative education programs in high-demand fields. The new co-op programs are expected to launch during the 2027-2028 academic year.
Why it matters
Cooperative education gives students full-time, paid work experience while they study, which can help offset college costs and build employment skills. The grants extend a statewide initiative that now includes five public campuses.
Co-op assignments typically run four to eight months and are full-time and paid, according to the initiative's program model. UMass Lowell's six-month co-op students earn an average of $20,714, a benchmark for the new programs, which have not yet launched.
The players
UMass Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell runs a long-established co-op program whose operational model is being shared with the newer participating campuses.
Worcester State University
A public university in Worcester, Massachusetts, that received state grant funding to build co-op programs in several academic fields.
UMass Dartmouth
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public campus on the South Coast that received state funding to develop an allied health co-op program.
The details
UMass Dartmouth will focus its co-op program on allied health and healthcare, while Worcester State University will build programs in municipal and cultural affairs, chemistry, biotechnology and early childhood education. Over the next year, both campuses will develop academic frameworks, recruit students and forge employer partnerships, with UMass Lowell sharing operational experience and coaching.
Timeline
2025: The Department of Higher Education's Innovation Hub launched with a $2.1 million grant from Axim Collaborative.
Earlier in 2026: The state awarded $210,000 to Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Bridgewater State University and Framingham State University.
Over the next year: UMass Dartmouth and Worcester State will develop frameworks and recruit students.
2027-2028 academic year: The new co-op programs are expected to launch.
Roadmap
The grants extend the Massachusetts Cooperative Education Initiative, which the Department of Higher Education's Innovation Hub runs with UMass Lowell, to two more public universities. With five campuses now participating, the state is building a shared model for paid co-op work across its public higher-education system.
Students at UMass Dartmouth and Worcester State may gain access to full-time, paid work placements that could help cover tuition and living costs. The programs are not yet open, so students considering them should watch for enrollment details as the 2027-2028 launch approaches.
The takeaway
Paid co-op placements can turn a college education into earned income and career experience at the same time. Students at participating schools should ask their campus career office about co-op openings as they become available.
What happens next
The new co-op programs at UMass Dartmouth and Worcester State are expected to launch during the 2027-2028 academic year.
Further reading
Learn more about financial aid options that help students cover the cost of college in Massachusetts.
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Should public colleges expand paid cooperative work programs for students?
