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, 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, California, and 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 (STEM Concentrations), TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), EdD (Doctor of Education), MSEM (Master of Science in Engineering Management) 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 only requires students to visit the campus once each semester.

For the 2025 academic year, the estimated tuition is as follows:

Bachelor Programs: $87,600;
Master Programs (Weekly): $29,484;
Master Programs (Professional): $30,780;
Doctorate Programs (Weekly): $52,860;
Doctorate Programs (Professional): $56,400.

2. Sofia University

Sofia University is 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 can take a vacation for one quarter. Students can also participate in full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during their vacation quarter.

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

 

The estimated tuition fees are as follows:

MBA: $24,000
MBA-Data Analytics: $28,000
MS in Computer Science: $24,000
DBA Program: $51,300.

3. CIAM

The California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) is located in Alhambra, California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is classified as a Public 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 sessions on campus per semester (every 4 months). They can 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 $26,652, with an average annual cost of $13,000.

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 and MBA-Organizational Leadership, which lasts 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.
* Total 52 credits; 8 credits per quarter; 3 quarters per year.

The on-site portion of the courses is consolidated into one weekend (two days) each quarter. 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't 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.