McDaniel College

McDaniel College is located in Westminster, Maryland, United States. It is situated about 30 miles northwest of Baltimore and approximately 60 miles north of Washington, D.C. The campus spans over 160 acres and is surrounded by a residential neighborhood.

✅ Pros:

• Great location near the great D.C area, close to Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey

• Has a long history and great ranking

• The tuition is very cost-effective

⚠️ Cons:

• Only has one option, MS Data Analytics for Day 1 CPT at the moment

McDaniel College offers a total of 19 graduate degree programs, one of which is the MS Data Analytics program that supports Day-1 CPT.

The MS Data Analytics program is offered in a hybrid format and encourages students to engage in active practice. This program not only expands students' data analysis skills, but also teaches them how to present data in an impactful and persuasive manner and make decisions systematically. All courses in this program integrate skills that are more commonly found in the arts and humanities, enabling students to think more critically and approach problems from a more macro perspective. This characteristic not only highlights McDaniel College's tradition in the humanities, but also significantly enhances students' understanding of the industry, setting them apart in their respective professional fields.

The MS Data Analytics program supports F1 students to start CPT from the beginning of the program. Working in related fields and conducting scientific research internships are mandatory requirements of this program, which are integrated into the overall training plan.

The program has obtained STEM certification, and eligible students will receive 12 months of OPT and 24 months of OPT Extension after graduation. However, it is worth noting that if a student works Fulltime CPT for more than 12 months during the program, they will lose their OPT opportunity.

| How to Apply for CPT at McDaniel College

• Fill out a CPT application form

• Submit an offer letter and job description

• Request that the employer sign the CPT agreement

• Once the documents are completed and signed, they should be sent to the Academic Advisor and International Student Advisor for approval and signatures

• CPT authorization is valid for up to one academic year. After the CPT expires, students need to submit a CPT update form or reapply

*McDaniel College allows students to renew CPT annually

Master of Science in Data Analytics (STEM)

The MS Data Analytics program requires the completion of 30 credits, with 6 credits (2 courses) taken per semester, and a total of 5 semesters to complete. (You can take a one-semester break, which will result in a total of 24 months of program study)

The following are the required courses for the MS Data Analytics program:

• 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

Choose one from these courses：

• ANA 544 - Independent Study in Data Analytics

• ANA 555 - Practicum in Applied Analytics, Data Communication & Ethics

**Click Here to find the course detail

McDaniel Official Announcement on Mandatory Internship and CPT

The McDaniel College MS Data Analytics program takes two academic years to complete, with each academic year divided into three semesters (fall, spring, and summer), with the option of taking a break for one semester.

Students in the MS Data Analytics program take two courses each semester, with courses delivered in a hybrid format. Students only need to attend in-person classes on campus for one weekend (3 days - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) per semester, with the remaining course content delivered online.

The campus where in-person classes are held is located in Westminster, Maryland, with convenient transportation options. It takes less than 40 minutes to drive to downtown Baltimore, less than 70 minutes to Washington DC, and only 3 and a half hours to New York City. In addition, McDaniel College is only 40 minutes away from Baltimore International Airport, providing convenient access to most major metropolitan areas throughout the eastern US and beyond.

The MS Data Analytics program at McDaniel College is a credit-based program at $689 per credit for 30 credits of 2 years, a total of $20,670. (*updated tuition, 2023 Fall)

The tuition cost per semester is approximately $4,134

• The CPT fee is included in the tuition

• You’re eligible to take one-semester break while using CPT

Other Fees:

• $105 Administrative Fee

• $200 Practicum Fee (per practicum)

• $204 Residency Fee (for your on-campus attendance)

  • Required for International Students

🔥Special Scholarship Only for Students Who Apply via CPTDog:

Apply through CPTDog / GoElite and get a $100 Amazon gift card (when you enroll)

• Easily apply

• Special offer

• No GPA, document requirement

• Students are still eligible to apply for other scholarships

* GoElite MUST be mentioned in the student's original application form, or a FERPA form for GoElite must be submitted before acceptance is issued in order to qualify for the scholarship and receive referral credit.

The MS Data Analytics program at McDaniel College is a credit-based program at $689 per credit for 30 credits of 2 years, a total of $20,670. (*updated tuition, 2023 Fall)

The tuition cost per semester is approximately $4,134

• The CPT fee is included in the tuition

• You’re eligible to take one-semester break while using CPT

Other Fees:

• $105 Administrative Fee

• $200 Practicum Fee (per practicum)

• $204 Residency Fee (for your on-campus attendance)

  • Required for International Students

Summer 2023 Application Deadline: Closed.

Fall 2023 Application Deadline: 1 week prior to the start date.

*If you miss the application deadline, don't worry, contact us, CPTDog could work with School Admissions to expedite admission decisions as soon as 3 days.

◎ Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree and a GPA of 3.0 or higher

2. Solid mathematical skills, previous education in statistics is required, in calculus is a plus

3. Language Tests - TOEFL 80+, IELTS 6.0+ (contact CPTDOG to get your language requirements waived)

4. All academic transcripts (overseas transcripts need to be certified by WES or ECE transcript)

5. Professional resume

6. A letter of professional or academic recommendation

7. Statement of Purpose

8. Bank Statement - $25,000

**If your GPA is lower than 3.0 or did not reach the language requirement, please contact us to assist!

◎ How to apply

• Submit here to acquire the latest Application Admission form

• After submission, you will receive an email within 1 business day containing the program's application system link and more information about the program.