McDaniel College
📍 Location: Westminster, MD
🔖 Day 1 CPT Program: MSDA [STEM]
🎖 Accreditation: MSCHE
🎱 Type: Private Non-Profit
💰 Program Tuition: $20,790
⏱️ Program Duration: 24-30 months
🚖 On-Site Visit: 1 weekend / Semester

University Overview
Founded in 1867, McDaniel College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a nationally recognized institution of higher education. McDaniel's tuition is very affordable, and the quality of education is nationally known, and the programs are highly practical. McDaniel College advocates small class sizes and high-quality teaching, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1 and an average class size of 15 students.
Accreditation
McDaniel College's accreditation was reaffirmed by MSCHE on November 6, 2023, following an extensive self-study process. McDaniel College has been accredited by MSCHE since 1922.
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
McDaniel College has been ranked:
- #1 U.S. News Most Valuable Colleges in the North
- #31 U.S. News Top Northern Colleges and Universities
- #381 Princeton Reference Best College in the Nation
- #1 Ed Smart Top 25 Best Colleges in Maryland
Locations
McDaniel College is located on a 160-acre campus in Westminster, Maryland, near Baltimore and Washington, DC.
CPT Policies at Ottawa University
- F1 students are required to take 2 courses per semester to maintain their full-time student status. 1 of them is online, and the other one is on-site.
- McDaniel College has a total of 19 graduate degree programs, of which the Data Analytics Master's program offers the Day 1 CPT.
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. (Eligible Programs: The Master’s in Data Analytics fits this eligibility category.)
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”).
There are 3 semesters in a year for Day 1 CPT Programs at McDaniel College: Fall, Spring and Summer.
In each semester, international students must register at least 2 courses (6 credits; including one online course and one hybrid course). Students may take one semester off after three consecutive semesters.
Onsite frequency: The hybrid course includes three days of onsite instruction each semester.
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 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
Program |
Total Tuition |
Annual Tuition |
Master's |
$20,790 |
$10,395 |
- Other fees
- Administrative Fee: $105 per semester.
- Residency Fee for on-site classes (mandatory for international students): $208
- Practicum Fee: $204
- No extra fees for CPT.
GoElite is the official enrollment representative for McDaniel College. Contact us for scholarship application information.
Academic Calendar
Terms | Application Deadline | Semester Start Date | CPT Start Date |
---|---|---|---|
Summer1 | 4/1/2025 | 5/27/2025 | 5/27/2025 |
Fall1 | 7/1/2025 | 8/15/2025 | 8/15/2025 |
- 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 Campbellsville University; we can help you accelerate your application.
Day 1 CPT Programs at McDanienl College
All programs require students to participate actively in CPT.
F1 students must take one 0-credit experiential internship course per semester, which will be structured in collaboration with the student and the instructor.
The MS Data Analytics requires 30 credits, with 6 credits (2 courses) per semester, to be completed in 5 semesters (with a sabbatical semester, which takes an average of 24 months).
Required Courses
- ANA 500 - Foundations of Data Analytics
- ANA 505 - Data Mining: Algorithms and Applications
- ANA 510 - Statistical Methods for Data Science and Analytics
- ANA 515 - Fundamentals of Data Storage, Cleaning and Retrieval
- ANA 522 - Fundamentals of Programming in Python
- ANA 525 - Qualitative Methods
- ANA 530 - Quantitative Reporting and Modeling
- ANA 535 - Forecasting and Proscriptive Methods
- ANA 540 - Advanced Data Analytics
Elective Courses
In addition, students will be required to choose one of the following two courses:
- ANA 544 - Independent Study in Data Analytics
- ANA 555 - Practicum in Applied Analytics, Data Communication & Ethics
Application to McDaniel College
Before Enrollment
- Bachelor's degree and a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Strong mathematical skills, with a course in statistics required.
- Having taken calculus is a plus. English scores (The English requirements can be waived if you hold a U.S. degree):
- TOEFL 80+ IELTS 6.0+ Duolingo 110+
- If you have not met the above requirements, you can contact day1cpt.org, we will reach out to the admissions officers directly and request that the requirements be met through other methods.
To apply:
1. Submit an application online: After submission, you will receive an email within 1 business day containing the link to the program's application system and more information about the program.
***Use Agent Referral Code: CYGOE to receive an exclusive scholarship from us!***
2. Materials required to submit an application: Follow the email guidelines to complete the online application form
- All academic transcripts (overseas transcripts need to be certified by WES or ECE)
- Resume
- A letter of professional or academic recommendation
- A copy of your current visa
- A copy of the passport with a photo
- Bank Statement: $25,000
If you miss the window and wish to catch up, you may consider our expedited enrollment service. For details, leave us a message regarding your situation, and our consultants are on their way to help!
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:
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.
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🚨Disclaimer: The term "Day 1 CPT Universities" commonly refers to universities that allow students to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) at the start of their first semester. However, getting CPT approval on the first day of the program is not automatic or guaranteed and depends on submitting a complete application on time. In most cases, CPT approval takes 5 to 15 business days after the university receives the required documents.
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