Best Day 1 CPT Universities on the West Coast

If you live and work in California, these are the most popular Day 1 CPT universities to choose from when failed to get an H1B. In FY2024’s H1B lottery, only 14.6% of applications were selected for H1B. This number is stunningly low. It also means tens of thousands of international students will have to seek other ways to stay in the U.S. A small portion of them can apply for O visas or L visas if they can fulfill the requirements. However, for the majority of the students, Day 1 CPT is your answer. We are going to introduce some of the most popular accredited Day 1 CPT universities throughout the month. Today, let’s focus on California and the states nearby.

Westcliff University

Pros & Cons:

✅ Great Locations

✅ STEM courses

✅ Doctoral level Day 1 CPT program

✅ Low RFE rate

✅ Low on-site requirement

✅ Can gap 1 semester and still use CPT after studying for 3 semesters

❌ Higher CPT renewal frequency (1/sem instead of 1/yr)

Sofia University

Pros and Cons

✅ Great Location (close to the Bay Area)

✅ Flexible CPT Application Process (can waive CPT agreement)

✅ Can extend the program to 2.5 years

✅ Relatively low workload

❌ Less Day 1 CPT majors to choose from

❌ Does not accept initial I-20 students

California Institute of Advanced Management

Pros and Cons

✅ Great Location

✅ Can waive CPT agreement

✅ Low workload; some courses don’t even have exams

✅ Can choose to finish the MBA in 1 year or extend it to a 2-year program

❌ Work experience is required for enrollment

❌ Higher CPT renewal frequency (1/sem instead of 1/yr)

❌ Only have one Day 1 CPT program (MBA)

Humphreys University

Pros and Cons

✅ Cheap

✅ Only need to renew CPT once per year

✅ Low on-site frequency

✅ Flexible CPT application process (can waive CPT agreement)

❌ Only has one Day 1 CPT program: MBA-IT

Things to take into consideration while choosing which Day 1 CPT universities to go to:

1. Day 1 CPT Major

It is essential to choose a major that is closely related to your current job. This is not only for the sake of applying for CPT authorization but also to prevent a dreadful RFE process once you’ve got an H1B.

2. Workload & On-site Frequency

It cannot be too much that makes you overly tired and not be able to keep a 3.0 GPA. However, it also cannot be too easy and too little. You need to collect all evidence that you are a legal and lawful F1 full-time student while on the program, including your syllabus, your transcript, your homework, etc. If the class is too easy and the on-site requirement is too low, then, you have nothing to show to the USCIS officer. You must collect enough evidence while at Day 1 CPT universities to demonstrate that you are an F1 student and that your primary intention is to advance your knowledge not working. Internships are merely designed to assist your learning process.

3. Scholarships

Most Day 1 CPT universities provide scholarships and referral bonuses to eligible international students.  Keep your GPA up and ask around. Don’t miss these opportunities. If you have questions or wish to apply for any specific scholarships, contact us for advice. As the official partner of these schools, our consultants know their policies better than anyone else. They can navigate you through the application process. All consultations are free.