<p>To follow up, I’ve known people that have taken part in coop programs and it is a great experience. Students come out of the programs with valuable experience, low debt due to the good wages they earn, etc. But on the flip side it does require a certain maturity to take part. At age 19 you may be asked to move 1,000 miles away for a job and spend a semester or six months there. You aren’t thrown in completely cold; they generally help finding housing and the like. But if the OP is looking for nearby colleges because the student isn’t ready to move far away then I’d consider that a red flag.</p>