Texas is rapidly becoming a top destination for F1 international students, experiencing remarkable growth in this demographic. Research from Opendoor indicates that over the past two years, the total number of international students in Texas, including those on Optional Practical Training (OPT), has surged by 15%, significantly outpacing the national average of 10% and far exceeding Californiaโs 3.2%.
One of the primary reasons for this trend is Texas's growing popularity among Indian international students, who are poised to surpass the number of Chinese international studentsโthe largest group over the past decade.
The migration of many tech companies to Texas, especially to the Dallas region, due to higher taxes in California, has made the state an even more attractive educational and professional hub. The top five universities in Texas, known for their focus on technology, are now leading institutions for international students. Coupled with pleasant weather and strong community support, Texas is not just a preferred study location but also a favored destination for Indian students to find employment and settle post-graduation.
Despite the recent reforms, the H1B visa selection rate remains around 25% for FY 2025, prompting many who wish to stay in the U.S. or build a career to consider Day 1 CPT programs as a viable alternative to the H1B visa.
What are the Day 1 CPT options in Texas Then?
Table of Content
Day 1 CPT Universities in Texas๐นTexas Wesleyan University
๐นUniversity of the Cumberlands
Day 1 CPT Universities Near Texas
๐นTennessee Wesleyan University๐นWestcliff University
Other Day 1 CPT Universities Texas Students Choose
๐นNorth Carolina Wesleyan University
๐นOttawa University
Day 1 CPT Universities in Texas
Dallas Baptist University
๐Location: Dallas, TX
๐๏ธ Programs: MS Information Technology and Management (STEM) | MS Management (STEM), MBA (STEM), TESOL
๐ฐ Program Tuition: $45,756 - $51,476
โฑ๏ธ Program Duration: 2 - 3 years depending on the program
๐บ On-site Visit: Bi-Weekly
๐น CPT Renewal: Every Semester
Texas Wesleyan University
๐Location: Fort Worth, TX
๐๏ธ Programs: MBA
๐ฐ Program Tuition: $30,600
โฑ๏ธ Program Duration: 2 years
๐บ On-site Visit: 1/Semester
๐น CPT Renewal: Every Semester
University of the Cumberlands
๐ Location: Irving, Texas (20 mins drive to Dallas)
๐๏ธ Programs: EMBA, MSIT, MSPM, MSISS, MSAI, MSCE, Ph.D. in IT, Ph.D. in Business, Ph.D. in Leadership, etc
๐ฐ Program Tuition: $17,500 - $46200
โฑ๏ธ Program Duration: 20 months - Master | 3-4 years - PhD
๐บ On-site Visit: 1 / Semester
๐น CPT Renewal: Every Semester
๐ธ Scholarship: Application Fee Waiver & Referral Bonus Available if apply through CPTDog
Other Options Near Texas
Tennessee Wesleyan University
๐ Location: Knoxville, TN (2 hours flight from Dallas. It has quickly become one of the popular choices among students in Texas due to its flexible CPT policy, affordable tuition, and low on-site frequency.)
๐๏ธ Programs: MS Business Analytics; EMBA; MS Project Management
๐ฐ Program Tuition: $18,000/program
โฑ๏ธ Program Duration: 1-2.5 years
๐บ On-Site Visit: One weekend (Friday through Sunday) each semester
๐น CPT Renewal: Every Semester
๐ธ Scholarship: N/A
Westcliff University
๐Location: Irvine, California (about to open a campus in Texas, once enrolled can transfer to Texas when new campus is open)
๐๏ธ Programs: MBA (STEM), MSCS (STEM), MSEM(STEM), MSIT (STEM), DBA (STEM), MA TESOL
๐ฐ Program Tuition: $28,620๏ผMaster๏ผ/$51,300 (DBA)
โฑ๏ธ Program Duration: 1- 4 years depending on the program
๐บ On-site Visit: 1 / month
๐น CPT Renewal: Every Semester
๐ธ Scholarship: Application Fee Waiver & Referral Bonus Available if apply through CPTDog. We can also help you apply for scholarships at Westcliff, which can be as high as $10,000.
Other Day 1 CPT Universities Texas Students Choose
North Carolina Wesleyan University
๐Location: Rocky Mount, NC๐๏ธ Programs: MBA | MS Strategic Leadership | MS IT Management (STEM)
๐ฐ Program Tuition: $17,440-$19,075
๐บ On-site Visit: 1 / month
๐น CPT Renewal: Every Semester
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a non-profit university, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. It offers three flexible Day 1 CPT programs at very affordable tuition. The combination of low tuition and minimal on-site requirements makes NCWU an appealing choice for students from Texas who are willing to travel for their studies.
Ottawa University
๐ Location: Brookfield, WI; Overland Park, KS๐บ Programs: EMBA | DBA
๐ฐ Tuition: $29,940 - $49,725
โฑ๏ธ Program Duration: EMBA - 2 Years; DBA - 3 Years
๐น On-site Visit: 2/Semester
๐๏ธ CPT Renewal: Every Year
New England College
๐ Location: Henniker, NH๐บ Programs: MSDA[STEM] | MBA | MSIT[STEM] | MSPM [STEM] | MS Healthcare Informatics[STEM]
๐ฐ Tuition: $17,952-$19,800
โฑ๏ธ Program Duration: 20 Months - 2 years
๐น On-site Visit: 1/Semester
๐๏ธ CPT Renewal: Every Semester
Located in Henniker, New Hampshire, New England College has gained attention among some Texas-based students who choose to enroll despite our recommendation to select schools closer to their residency. This accredited university offers executive programs that grant international students CPT from the start of their studies. Its combination of affordable tuition and minimal on-site requirements makes it an attractive option for Texas students willing to travel.
Regular Universities with CPT Options
When meeting the requirements, these universities allow F1 transfer students (from OPT to CPT) to use CPT from the start of their program. However, they offer only a limited number of majors. While most of their programs are designed as standard master's or doctoral-level programs, only a few include work-integrated designs that enable the use of CPT.
A major advantage of these universities is that they are accredited and often hold rankings in US News. This aligns with the traditional mindset of international students and offers them a sense of security. Additionally, these universities typically have a higher full-time versus part-time faculty ratio than Day 1 CPT universities.
On the downside, opting for another master's degree at these universities usually means facing:
๐บ higher tuition fees
๐บ more on-site requirements. T
๐บ only three enrollment periods throughout the year, which may not align well with your personal OPT expiration schedule.
๐บ Additionally, the CPT approval process at these universities can be more complex and time-consuming, as programs that offer CPT or are designed with integrated CPT constitute only a small portion of the university's offerings.
๐บ CPT typically involves closely monitored assessments, additional homework, or presentations related to the internship experience.
The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas Austin is ranked #43 in Best Global Universities on US News.
๐ Location: Austin, Texas
๐ธ CPT policy: need to enroll a CPT course and CPT authorization needs to be renewed on a semester basis.
๐บ CPT Eligibility: The highlighted section (see pic below) states that if you are a transfer student, you can start applying for CPT at the beginning of the program, provided that your previous U.S. study duration exceeded two semesters.
Texas State University
Texas State University is a public research university and is ranked #280 out of 439 National Universities on US News.
๐ Location: San Marcos and Round Rock, Texas
๐ธ CPT policy: CPT has to go with classes, which means renewed by terms
๐บ CPT Eligibility: The details don't specify whether CPT can begin on the first day, but the eligibility section indicates that some graduate programs have integrated CPT into their curriculum as a mandatory graduation requirement, thus making the CPT option available.
University of North Texas
A fast-growing university located in Texas, focusing on tech-related programs and boasts a large number of Indian international students. It is one of the nationโs top colleges for enrolling transfer students U.S. News & World Report
The University of Texas at Dallas
