Bay Atlantic University｜Affordable CPT Program in DC

University Overview

Bay Atlantic University (BAU) is a private, non-profit university in Washington, DC, that offers higher education programs to domestic and international students at its centrally located campus, just a short walk from the White House.

At BAU, we believe higher education should open doors to real opportunities for everyone. As a new-generation university rooted in Washington, D.C., we design our programs to connect knowledge with practical experience, because today’s workforce demands more than theory alone.

That’s why most of our professional master’s programs include an internship requirement for graduation, ensuring every student gains hands-on industry experience through our structured Virtual Internship course as well as externships or independent work experiences.

Accreditation

Bay Atlantic University has been granted initial accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Accreditation by the Commission indicates that the institution meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college or university has been found to have the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs. It also gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

F-1 Students Must:
- Attend all required in-person sessions (residencies) on campus each semester (online-only attendance is not allowed).
- Maintain full-time enrollment and comply with the university’s requirement for a full course of study: Enroll in all semesters and sessions (Fall, Spring, and Summer) each academic year and obtain a minimum of 6 credits per semester or session (18 credits per year).
There are short academic breaks between semesters and sessions. Please take a look at the academic calendar for more details.
BAU has 3 semesters per year — Fall, Spring (14–16 weeks), and Summer (8 weeks, intensive).
Typically, it takes 2 years to complete the program.

Internship Requirement for Graduation

A practical internship experience is a required component of most master’s degree programs at BAU. To fulfill this requirement, students must complete a part-time virtual internship (up to 10 hours/week) during their final semester through hosting companies arranged by the University’s designated partner. Externships or independent work experiences secured outside this structure will not be accepted as a substitute, though they may be pursued in addition to this virtual internship.

Students are strongly encouraged to pursue additional internships or work experiences throughout their studies to further strengthen their industry readiness and professional development, including in programs that do not require virtual internships for graduation.

CPT Authorization

CPT may be authorized when an internship is a requirement of the degree program (i.e., all students in the program must complete the internship to obtain the degree). CPT can be authorized for full-time employment or part-time employment, but please note that if 12 months or more of full-time CPT is used, a student forfeits his or her OPT eligibility. Proof of course enrollment for this type of CPT is not required. Follow the application procedures to request CPT based on the Degree Requirement. Authorization is granted on an academic year basis.

This means that international students enrolled in this program must work in a field related to their studies to satisfy the program's degree requirements. In order to ensure that the selected internship/practical training experience is appropriate, all CPT must be approved by both an academic advisor and a Designated School Official (“DSO”).

International Travel

BAU does not recommend international travel during semesters as it may interfere with attendance.

If necessary, students must:

Get approval from their academic advisor.
Obtain travel authorization from the DSO.
Ensure their I-20 is signed and their visa/passport is valid.

F1 students must attend the first weekend of class. The first weekend cannot be excused.

The first weekend of classes: Aug 22-24 (due to the Labor Day Holiday)
The second weekend classes: Oct. 24-26

Fall & Spring Weekend Schedule:

FRIDAY (6 hours + 1 hour of break)
Session I: 12–3 p.m.
Break: 3–4 p.m.
Session II: 4–7 p.m.

SATURDAY (8 hours + 1 hour of break)
Session I: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Break: 12–1 p.m.
Session II: 1–5 p.m.

SUNDAY (6 hours + 1 hour of break)
Session I: 8–11 a.m.
Break: 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Session II: 12–3 p.m.

Campbellsville University, in accordance with USCIS regulations, grants CPT work authorization to students. Typically, international students need to be enrolled for over a year before they can apply for CPT.

Due to program requirements, students in the MSITM and PMBA programs can apply for CPT authorization starting from their first semester and engage in either full-time or part-time work. The MSCS, MSCC, and MSDSAI programs allow students who have already obtained a Master's degree in the US to apply for CPT authorization from their first semester for either full-time or part-time work.

Students in these five programs can continuously apply for CPT during their studies without interruption. To utilize CPT, students need to enroll in the BA500 Graduate Management Externship Course (0 credits) every semester. CPT authorization needs to be renewed annually.

Day 1 CPT at Campbellsville University

Day 1 CPT Class Requirement

Campbellsville University's graduate program is divided into three semesters in a year: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Each semester is further divided into two terms. Students in the Day-1 CPT program register for 6 credits each semester, which includes one 3-credit hybrid course and one 3-credit online course.

The hybrid course lasts for 16 weeks (2 terms) and has an in-person session over one weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Students who fail to attend will lose their F1 student status.

Tuition

Tuition Fee

If you are a GoElite student and apply through us, you will get a 37% off discount! You pay only $800/credit! (Regular $1270/credit)

You can get an extra 5% off your tuition if you pay the semester up front:

If you prefer to pay all your tuition balance upfront during the course registration dates, as shown below, you will receive a 5% discount on the semester tuition. An upfront payment discount is not available for late registrations.

Fall 2025: August 5 to August 15, 2025
Spring 2026: January 2 to January 16, 2026
Summer 2026: May 12 to May 22, 2026

Payment Plans Info: https://hubs.ly/Q03t3J4w0

Program	Total Tuition	Annual Tuition
Master's	$28,800	$14,400
Dual Master's	$19,200	$38,400

Other fees
- Application fee $45 (Apply through us to waive it!)
- Student Activities and Services Fee $135
- Technology Fee $165
- Student ID Card $20

*Additional fee incurred if student does not provide U.S. based employer health insurance or comparable insurance plan.

GoElite is the official enrollment representative for BAU. Contact us for scholarship application information.

Academic Calendar

Terms	Application Deadline	Semester Start Date	CPT Start Date
Fall1	8/11/2025	8/25/2025	8/25/2025
Spring1	1/6/2026	1/20/2026	1/20/2026
Summer1	5/8/2026	5/22/2026	5/22/2026

Initial F1 Students: 3 months before the first day of the term. If you missed the deadline, please get in touch with us.
We are the official recruitment partner of BAU; we can help you accelerate your application.

Hybrid Professional Master's Programs at BAU

All the following programs include a required component for graduation, in which students are expected to participate actively.

MS in Artificial Intelligence Engineering [STEM]

The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree is earned by completing the program course requirements of 36 credit hours (12 courses of 3 credit hours), of which 21 credits are core courses and 15 credits are elective courses. To qualify for the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree, students must meet all core and concentration elective credit requirements.

Students should meet the following minimum requirements to qualify for a graduate degree: Minimum Passing Grade Per Course B- (CGPA 3.00)

Total Required Credits 36

Students enrolled in the graduate program must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 (B) out of 4.0 and earn a minimum grade of not less than 2.7 (B-) out of 4.0 on all courses to qualify to graduate.
The Maximum Time Frame (MTF) for completion of the Master’s program is 54 credits.
A graduate student may transfer up to 9 credit hours earned at accredited institutions.

Course Details

MS in Big Data Analytics [STEM]

The Master of Science in Big Data Analytics degree is earned by completing the program course requirements of 36 credit hours (12 courses of 3 credit hours), of which 21 credits are core courses and 15 credits are elective courses. To qualify for the Master of Science in Big Data Analytics degree, students must meet all core and concentration elective credit requirements.

Students should meet the following minimum requirements to qualify for a graduate degree:
Minimum Passing Grade Per Course B- (CGPA 3.00)

Total Required Credits 36

Students enrolled in the graduate program must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 (B) out of 4.0 and earn a minimum grade of not less than 2.7 (B-) out of 4.0 on all courses to qualify to graduate.
The Maximum Time Frame (MTF) for completion of the Master’s program is 54 credits.
A graduate student may transfer up to 9 credit hours earned at accredited institutions.

Course Details

MS in Cloud Computing Engineering [STEM]

The Master of Science in Cloud Computing Engineering degree is earned by completing the program course requirements of 36 credit hours (12 courses of 3 credit hours), of which 21 credits are core courses and 15 credits are elective courses. To qualify for the Master of Science in Cloud Computing Engineering degree, students must meet all core and concentration elective credit requirements.

Students should meet the following minimum requirements to qualify for a graduate degree:
Minimum Passing Grade Per Course B- (CGPA 3.00)
Total Required Credits 36

Students enrolled in the graduate program must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 (B) out of 4.0 and earn a minimum grade of not less than 2.7 (B-) out of 4.0 on all courses to qualify to graduate.
The Maximum Time Frame (MTF) for completion of the Master’s program is 54 credits.
A graduate student may transfer up to 9 credit hours earned at accredited institutions.

Course Details

MS in Cyber Security [STEM]

The Master of Science in Cyber Security degree is earned by completing the program course requirements of 36 credit hours (12 courses of 3 credit hours), of which 21 credits are core courses and 15 credits are elective courses. To qualify for the Master of Science in Cyber Security degree, students must meet all core and concentration elective credit requirements.

Students should meet the following minimum requirements to qualify for a graduate degree:
Minimum Passing Grade Per Course B- (CGPA 3.00)
Total Required Credits 36

Students enrolled in the graduate program must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 (B) out of 4.0 and earn a minimum grade of not less than 2.7 (B-) out of 4.0 on all courses to qualify to graduate.
The Maximum Time Frame (MTF) for completion of the Master’s program is 54 credits.
A graduate student may transfer up to 9 credit hours earned at accredited institutions.

Course Details

Application to BAU

Before Enrollment

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT AND DIPLOMA of high school (if applying for undergraduate programs) or bachelor's degree (if applying for graduate programs) (must be in English)
PROOF OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY (*waived if language of instruction is English)
- IELTS 6
- TOEFL (PBT, CBT, IBT) 550, 214, 80
- TOEIC 700
- Duolingo 90
- Pearson (PTE) 53
- BAU English Proficiency Test 75 (Only offered on campus)
- Mentora College ESL Program Pass 500C course Bean

**COURSE-BY-COURSE EVALUATION (Required for only Master’s applicants whose transcript was not issued by a U.S. institution)
PHOTOCOPY OF PASSPORT
BANK STATEMENTS
- Must not be older than 3 months.
- Show proof of adequate financial resources: For 2025-2026: minimum $24,900 (undergraduates) / $28,260 (graduates); for 2026-2027: minimum $25,350 (undergraduates) / $28,800 (graduates)
- If the applicant has any dependents, passport copies and marriage certificate (for spouse) and birth certificate (for children)
- And extra $300/month is required for each dependent.
- Use OANDA to exchange currency.
- Must show the name of the account owner.
SPONSORSHIP LETTER (if the applicant is not the owner of the bank account)
VISA COPY, FORM I-94, ALL OTHER IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS

After Enrollment - CPT Application

A student must complete and sign the CPT Application and provide the following to both the student’s academic advisor and your international student advisor for approval:

A completed and signed Cooperative Agreement from the employer, along with the following:

0. Log in to your BAU Portal

1. A current, official signed offer letter from the employer to the student on company letterhead that contains a detailed job description.

2. A current, dated detailed job description on company letterhead listing the job title and responsibilities for the CPT position.

Applicants for admission should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions with questions and for the specific forms and details of the approval process.

FAQ - Day 1 CPT at McDaniel College

MS Data Analytics

For the Fall 2024 semester, the tuition fee is $693 per credit. The program spans over 2 years and consists of 30 credits. The total tuition fee for the program is $20,790. If you take a sabbatical for one semester and opt for full-time CPT, the cost per semester would be around $4,158. On average, the annual tuition fee is $10,395.

$105 Administrative Fee (per semester)
$200 Practicum Fee (per practicum)
$204 Residency Fee (for hybrid delivery model only) (per semester)
- Required for International Students
No Extra Fee for CPT!

Onsite classes are held once per semester and last for three days.

🚨Disclaimer: Bay Atlantic University is an internship-friendly institution that strongly encourages students to gain practical work experience alongside their studies. While we support and guide students in pursuing opportunities like Curricular Practical Training (CPT), CPT is never guaranteed and depends on submitting a complete application on time. All CPT must meet federal requirements and be approved by our Designated School Official (DSO). In most cases, CPT approval takes 5 to 15 business days after the university receives the required documents.

✓ One-on-One Free Consultation

✓ Personalized Hybrid Professional Master's Programs List

✓ Application Fee Waiver & Application Assistant

✓ Scholarship Opportunities

✓ Connecting to the Admission Officer to Get Pre-Approval

✓ Premium Process - Get an Offer and I-20 within 3 days [added-value service]

*Our consultants are committed to providing a seamless experience. Once you initiate a case with us, you will be assigned a specific consultant who will thoroughly understand your case, ensuring that there's no need for you to repeat information each time you call. We will not change your consultant unless you request it.