COOP'S tuition-free career accelerating fellowship matches peer cohorts of underemployed college grads with alumni coaches to support them in building the professional skills and networks they need to get their first good job after graduation.

Motivated grads meet nightly on Monday-Thursday to learn technical skills, meet potential employers, and build community. Near-peer coaches lead each cohort, teaching the curriculum and serving as mentors and guides.

Our curriculum introduces fellows to the hard skills (e.g. SEO, SEM, Tableau, SQL) and soft skills (e.g., time management, communication) of each industry and provides guidance and support as they secure their good first job.

`KO-op (like cooperate, NOT like chicken coop)

COOP’s mission is to overcome underemployment for underrepresented college graduates through digital skills training and peer connections. Across our sites in New York City, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, we’ve launched nearly 600 cohorts since 2014, welcoming over 7,100 alumni in our first 10 years.

Three in four of alumni overcome underemployment within a year, earning an average of $50,000 per year and almost $75,000 after five years.

This is the small group of peers who most closely make up your COOP network. These folks, plus your captains and program manager, make up your COOP network. They provide you with direct social capital.

At COOP we believe your network plus your hard work equals your net worth.

We're all about overcoming underemployment. That means we're looking for recent first-generation, Pell Grant eligible college graduates still searching for their first good job.

Underemployment is a measure of the total number of people in an economy who are unwillingly working in low-skill and low-paying jobs or only part-time because they cannot get full-time jobs that use their skills.

If you (or a sibling) are the first person in your family to earn a Bachelor’s degree within the United States, you are considered a first generation college graduate.

You are still considered a first generation college graduate if your parent(s) earned an Associates degree, completed some college but didn’t finish, or completed a certificate or other technical training program.

You are also still considered a first generation college graduate if your parent(s) received a Bachelor’s degree in a country outside of the U.S.

If you have questions about whether you qualify as a first generation college graduate, please email recruiting@coopcareers.org.

The COOP Careers Fellowship is partnering with MDRC, a nonprofit research organization, to study the COOP Careers Fellowship program. The goal of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the COOP Careers Fellowship in helping individuals with bachelor’s degrees find better jobs and earn more. 

Participating in the study is voluntary. However, to be eligible for acceptance into the COOP Careers Fellowship, you must agree to take part in the study as part of the COOP application process.

Applicants for the COOP Careers Fellowship will learn more about the study during the group interview process. Questions can be directed to recruiting@coopcareers.org.

Candidates must meet all of the criteria below:

1. You’ve earned your bachelor’s degree between August 14, 2015 and August 14, 2025.

2. You are unemployed (and legally authorized to work in the U.S.) or underemployed.  One or more of the following applies to you:

   • you earn less than $50,000 per year

   • you are working in a position that does not require a college degree

   • you are working less than 35 hours a week

3. You are a U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work in the U.S. without restriction (ie. permanent resident, employment authorization, DACA recipient).

4. You must be at least 21 years of age by August 13, 2025.

5. You must be available four evenings per week (M-Th) for the duration of the fellowship.

6. You must live within one of our region-specific states: NY, NJ, CT, IL, IN, FL, and CA and live within two hours commuting distance of the city you are applying for.

In addition, candidates should also identify with at least one of these criteria:

First-generation college grad: You (or a sibling) are the first in your immediate family to earn a bachelor’s degree in the United States

Financial aid recipient: You qualified for public financial aid during most, or all of, college (examples include federal Pell Grants; TAP and SEEK grants in New York; MAP Grant in Illinois; or Cal Grants in California)

Just like our curriculum, we're focused on three things:

Head: You love to learn and you’re excited to pursue a career in digital marketing, data analytics, or financial services.

Heart: You believe in community and the power of peer relationships.

Hustle: You’re ready to work hard and take control of your career.

Take COOP’s track match quiz to learn which of our programs is right for you and your future career: COOP Track Quiz.

We also encourage you to learn a little more about each track and possible career pathways:

Digital Marketing

Data Analytics

Financial Services

Here is our application process:

1. Complete the Interest Form above

2. Attend an Information Session to get an invitation to apply

3. Complete your application

4. Upload eligibility documents

5. Attend a Group Interview

6. Submit informed consent for study registration

Decisions are sent out on a rolling basis before program launch.

Our fall 2025 fellowship is currently accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Some tracks fill quickly, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible!

COOP’s Early Action deadline for  fall 2025 is May 29, 2025. 

COOP’s Priority Deadline for fall 2025 is July 18, 2025.

Our spring fellowship is currently underway and fall 2025 is right around the corner.

Submit an interest form today!

August 14 - December 4, 2025

Monday - Thursday evenings, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

* With the exception of Digital Marketing cohorts in Chicago, which will meet Monday-Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:30 p.m. CT.

90% attendance required

While much of assignment completion occurs during program hours, fellows can expect to commit an additional two to three hours per week working on projects outside of these times in order to finish them.

COOP is a rigorous fellowship designed with one goal in mind: supporting your career launch.

The more you engage with the COOP community, the more meaningful it will be for you.

To successfully complete COOP’s program, the following are required:

1. Attend at least 90% of class sessions (allows for six grace days)

2. Complete all assignments by end of program (Head, Heart and Hustle)

3. Score at least 8/10 on three “Hustle” rubrics (LinkedIn, Cover Letter, Interviewing)

4. Score a 5/5 on the Resume rubric

5. Complete at least 20 job applications throughout the semester

6. Contribute meaningfully to your client based/capstone team project(s)

7. Join at least one interview prep session

8. Actively participate during program evening community activities and workshops sessions including having your camera on during virtual sessions

Sadly, we've learned there's no such thing as a guaranteed job. Trust us—we wish there were. We can't promise any job offer or paid internship, but we are totally committed to doing everything we can to accelerate your career. We are a career and professional development program, rather than a job placement program. Think of us as a multiplier of your effort. Whatever you put in, we'll multiply the value with digital skills and peer connections.

But remember: Anything times zero is zero.

COOP currently serves the metro areas of New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Miami.

While most fellowship content is delivered virtually through Zoom, in COOP’s largest regions, New York City and the Bay Area, COOP fellows meet in person once a month to network and build community. 

New York: The monthly in-person learning component is held at Civic Hall, 124 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003. 

Bay Area: The monthly in-person learning component is held at Swissnex San Francisco, Pier 17, San Francisco, CA 94111.

In Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami, there will be occasional optional in-person opportunities for building peer connections and employer networking events.

Please only apply to the COOP city and program track that is closest to the current city you reside in.

Please note: You must live within one of our region-specific states: NY, NJ, CT, IL, IN, FL, and CA and live within 2 hours’ commuting distance of the city you are applying for (NYC, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami).

Thanks to alumni leaders and generous sponsors, COOP’s fellowship is 100% FREE for all participants. In return, we ask that all alumni pay-it-forward as coaches, mentors, advocates, and sponsors.

No, this is an unpaid learning experience.

In addition to increasing your social capital by joining our 7,100+ strong alumni network, you’ll also be eligible for the following benefits after completing COOP:

1. Job search support

2. Professional development

3. Social mixers and events

4. Alumni communications

No, you would not be eligible for the COOP program. COOP is focused on overcoming underemployment for recent college graduates and supporting them in securing full-time, entry level roles upon program completion.

We define a recent graduate as someone who has graduated within 10 years of applying to COOP.

Thank you for finding us and for your interest! COOP is focused on overcoming underemployment for recent college graduates and supporting them in securing full-time, entry-level roles upon program completion.

If you meet eligibility requirements and are currently earning or have earned a Master’s degree, we welcome you to apply!

Currently, we are strictly accepting college graduates. However, we’re not going anywhere! COOP is growing and new cohorts start every semester.

Please note: if you will earn your bachelor’s degree before August 14, 2025 you’re welcome to submit your application for consideration.

There is no maximum age to participate in the COOP fellowship.

If you have graduated from college within the last 10 years and meet the other eligibility requirements, you are encouraged to apply.