Many international students working in Texas have experienced a similar phase: work continues, but OPT time is limited, the H-1Bprocess is full of uncertainty, and planning the next step for legal status remains a constant concern. At this juncture, figuring out how to stabilize one's status without disrupting the work rhythm in the U.S. becomes an unavoidable question.
For many, Day 1 CPT is often brought into consideration. However, another question arises when actually choosing a school. If you are already working in STEM fields like engineering, data, or IT, is it possible to choose a STEM-designated program during the CPT phase to secure longer OPT time afterwards?
This article aims to help STEM-background students in Texas, who are considering Day 1 CPT, understand how to choose a more suitable school and program based on their OPT history.
🔥What to do if you don't get selected in the H-1B lottery?
International students working in Texas, especially those in technical, data, engineering, product, or analytical roles, often have a clear career direction. While planning to use CPT to stay in the U.S., they care more about whether the major matches their current job and if it can secure more stable and extended time for their future U.S. status.
The reason STEM programs are frequently mentioned is precisely because they offer greater flexibility in immigration planning. STEM graduates have the opportunity to apply for OPT of up to three years. This means longer authorized work time in the U.S. and a more relaxed pace for job searching, the lottery, or subsequent status transitions.
For most working international students, CPT is a transitional tool for maintaining status. If you choose a STEM-designated CPT program, and you have not used OPT at the same degree level before, and your full-time CPT work does not exceed one year, you may be eligible to apply for longer OPT after graduation, buying more buffer time for future U.S. planning.
Looking just within Texas, there are actually quite a few Day 1 CPT school options, with an increasing variety of program types, covering fields from business to STEM. For students already working in Texas, being able to find a suitable Day 1 CPT school locally is itself a significant advantage, avoiding the need to travel across states for classes.
What's truly perplexing is how to choose among these options. For example, does the program meet your needs? Can the class schedule be balanced with a full-time job? Are tuition and commuting costs within an acceptable range? Is the school's support and service friendly?
The schools mentioned below are precisely those with STEM-designated programs that many Texas students repeatedly weigh in practical comparisons. Each has its own focus and is more suitable for students with different backgrounds and at different stages, to be chosen in conjunction with one's current work direction and future plans.
1. Concordia University Texas (CTX)
Campus Location: Austin, TXConcordia University Texas is especially friendly to students living in and around Austin, Texas. The school additionally offers free on-campus housing or discounts on off-campus hotel bookings for CPT students. If you are already working in the tech circles around Austin, Texas, and do not wish to commute frequently between cities for CPT, this school will be more comfortable in terms of geography and time cost.
Branch Campus Location: Dallas, TX
The greatest feature of Westcliff University is its diverse majors and large selection space. Whether your current work leans more towards technology, management, or you are in a transitional phase between the two, itis relatively easy to find a direction among Westcliff's existing STEM programs that aligns with your work.
Additionally, for students who need to switch from H-1B back to F-1 and hope to connect their status as soon as possible, Westcliff University is relatively friendly in terms of timing. The school supports status-change students in activating CPT on the very first day of school, without additional waiting gaps. If you value uninterrupted status and the ability to continue working normally, Westcliff University becomes a practical and reliable option.
Texas Wesleyan University's MBA program offers STEM directions in Data Analytics and Supply Chain Management, making the major's alignment with actual work more fitting and meeting the real needs of many companies for job capabilities. Like Westcliff University, Texas Wesleyan University's CPT policy also supports status-change students using CPT as early as the start of school.
Furthermore, Texas Wesleyan University has a relatively practical advantage in scheduling: students can start using CPT as early as one month before classes begin. For students who have already received a job offer but have tight status transition timing, this point often reduces a lot of unnecessary pressure from gap periods. If you prioritize stabilizing your work and status as soon as possible, this school will be a relatively pragmatic choice.
IWU's core advantage lies in its cost-effectiveness. If your direction is very clear—specifically technical or IT roles—and you also hope to control tuition expenses as much as possible, this school will better suit a pragmatic choice.
The school has a campus in Texas; the first two semesters require completing onsite courses in Texas. Subsequent onsite courses are then arranged at the Merrillville campus in Indiana. To reduce commuting costs, the school provides a travel subsidy of approximately $300, which is relatively friendly for students needing to travel across states for campus visits, but itis also advisable to factor in commuting time and travel costs in advance.
Looking at these several Day 1 CPT programs in Texas together, each school addresses different problems. Some excel in the variety of major choices, some have more friendly school policies, some offer high tuition cost-effectiveness, and some have advantages in flexibility. When it comes to making a real choice, it often boils down to several very practical questions: Does your current job match the major? Is there a suitable enrollment window? Can you afford the tuition and onsite frequency in the long term? If these questions are thought through clearly, choosing a school often becomes less difficult. STEM-designated Day 1 CPT programs help you maximize the use of CPT to stay in the U.S. while also making your learning path and career development smoother.
If you are still hesitating about which type of school is more suitable for your situation, or are unsure if a certain major truly aligns with your current work, there's actually no need to rush the decision. Getting the information clear first often leads to a more stable choice. If needed, feel free to schedule our free consultation service. We can help you sort out your background, compare the differences between different programs, and see which choices are more suitable in your current circumstances.