Best 5 Day 1 CPT Universities in California

In this article, we will summarize the top five Day 1 CPT universities in California. We will compare these universities based on various factors including institution accreditation, geographical location, CPT policies, and academic pressure, etc. If you are in California and seeking the perfect Day 1 CPT school, keep reading！👇

1. Westcliff University

Westcliff University is located in Irvine, CA. The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Westcliff University offers the following Day 1 CPT (Curricular Practical Training) options to those programs: MS in Computer Science, MS in Information Technology, MS in Engineering Management, MBA (Master of Business Administration), TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), EdD (Doctor of Education), and DBA (Doctor of Business Administration). Some of these programs are also STEM-certified. The Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is renewed on a semester basis, and it only requires students to visit the campus once each semester.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the estimated tuition is $28,620 for masters programs and $51,300 for doctoral programs. The average annual tuition is $12,265 for masters programs and $12,825 for doctoral programs.

2. Sofia University

Sofia University is situated in Palo Alto and Costa Mesa in California, Western United States. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and operates as a Private For-Profit institution.

The school offers the following Day 1 CPT (Curricular Practical Training) programs: MBA (STEM), and MS in Computer Science (STEM). Sofia operates on a quarter system, with four quarters each year, each lasting 11 weeks. After completing three consecutive quarters, students have the option to take a vacation for one quarter. Notably, students are also allowed to participate in full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during their vacation quarter.

There is no gap between the CPT periods each term, allowing students the opportunity to engage in CPT work for the entire year, 365 days.

The estimated tuition ranges from $18,720 to $24,960, with an average annual cost between $9,360 and $10,920.

3. CIAM

The California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) is located in Alhambra, CA. This school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is classified as a Private Nonprofit institution.

CIAM offers a Day 1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program in the field of MBA (Master of Business Administration). CIAM utilizes a hybrid model for its graduate program, which consists of 36 credit hours. There are three terms in a year, with students needing to complete six credit hours (two courses) per term. One course is offered online, and the other is an on-site course. The schedule for on-site classes is flexible. Students are required to attend 2-3 sessions on campus per term (every 4 months). They have the option to choose between Saturday afternoons and Sunday evenings, or Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons for their on-site classes. The remainder of the coursework is conducted online.

The estimated tuition fee for the program is $24,000, with an average annual cost of $12,000.

4. Humphreys University

Humphreys University is located in Stockton, in the Bay Area of Western California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and operates as a Private Nonprofit institution.

The school offers a Day-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program for MBA-IT, which has a duration of 2.5 years. The program is a full-time hybrid model, blending both online and on-site learning. The program consists of 56 credit hours and is expected to be completed in 27 months. Each term, which lasts for 11 weeks, students are required to take two courses worth four credit hours each.

The on-site portion of the courses is consolidated into one weekend (two days) each term. There is a two-week vacation between each term. All courses operate on a hybrid model, incorporating some on-site teaching.

The 4th and 8th terms after admission into the program are designated as mandatory annual breaks. Students can utilize these breaks to spend more time on their Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

The estimated tuition fee for the program is $21,000, with an average annual cost of $9,333.

5. Trine University

（It's not in California, but students only need to attend onsite sessions once per semester）

Trine University is located in Allen Park, MI and Phoenix, AZ. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is classified as a Private Nonprofit institution. Despite Trine University not being located in California, we have included it in our recommendations due to its advantageous transportation accessibility, which makes it easy for students from California to attend.

The Detroit campus is located near the Henry Ford Museum, just 20 minutes from downtown Detroit and only 15 minutes from Detroit International Airport. The Phoenix campus is only a 10-minute drive from Phoenix International Airport, and there are Metro stations nearby, which greatly enhances its accessibility. The university plans to open a new campus in Virginia (the DC campus) soon. Students have the freedom to choose which campus they prefer for their on-site courses.

Trine University offers Day-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) in the following programs: MBA (Master of Business Administration), Business Analytics, Engineering Management, and Information Studies.

The total estimated tuition for these programs is $18,687, with an average annual cost of $9,343.