Description of this type of school/schooling method:
This occurs at the college level. Many colleges on the quarter system and a few on the semester system offer this opportunity. A student goes to college for a quarter and during that time arranges for and possibly interviews for a cooperative work assignment which would take place during the next quarter. It continues in an alternating fashion all during the college years.

Advantages:
Students are provided with wonderful opportunities to interview, to see first-hand what goes on in the "real world" of their chosen major, and are provided with real-life problems to solve. One returns to classes the next quarter with a new angle on many classes. Look ahead to senior year of college and compare yourself to others who are interviewing for various positions. Firms and businesses will look very favorably on those with relative work experience versus a graduate without.

Challenges:
If the work assignment is not in the same geographic area as the student's college, then the challenge exists for the student to get housing.

Tuition/Costs:
$2,500/year or less

Other comments regarding tuition/costs:
Often, a student can earn money while on cooperative education assignments. This can help ease tuition and other college expenses.