Which is better for co-op: Arizona State or Drexel?

The biggest practical tradeoff is scale versus structure: Arizona State offers lots of internship and employer access because of its size and location advantages, while Drexel has a far more built-in, long-established co-op system that is part of the academic experience for many students. If co-op itself is your main priority, Drexel is the school with the clearer edge. Its program is one of the most established in the country, and many students complete multiple full-time co-op terms before graduating.

Drexel is specifically designed around cooperative education in a way ASU is not. At Drexel, co-op is not just a career center option sitting next to classes. It is integrated into many degree paths, with structured timelines, advising, employer relationships, and a large network of organizations used to hiring Drexel students for these roles. That makes it easier to build serious, resume-level experience rather than piecing together internships on your own.

ASU absolutely has strong career resources, major employer connections, and plenty of students getting internships and professional experience. In fields like engineering, business, and tech, there are real opportunities, especially in the Phoenix area, which has been growing fast. But the experience is typically less centered on formal co-op as a defining part of the undergraduate model. In practice, ASU can be very good for internships, but Drexel is more reliable if you specifically want a school where work terms are a core feature.

One more practical note: Drexel’s co-op structure can affect your academic calendar and sometimes the total time and flow of your college experience, since alternating work and study is a major part of how many students move through the program. For students who want that rhythm, it is a real advantage. For students who want a more traditional campus setup with work experience added on, ASU may feel simpler.

So if the question is strictly which school is better for co-op, Drexel is the stronger answer. ASU can still deliver strong preprofessional experience, but Drexel is much more intentionally built for it.