Trine University CPT Programs: Flexible Options for Success

Trine University

Trine University, a leading choice for CPT programs, boasts satellite campuses in Allen Park, Michigan; Phoenix, Arizona; and Reston, Virginia. Renowned for its affordable tuition and lenient CPT policies, Trine University is a top destination for students seeking CPT opportunities. Here, students benefit from the ability to initiate CPT on their program's first day. Eligible graduate students in Trine’s experiential learning track may begin CPT as early as their program start date once CPT is approved. CPT applications can be submitted up to 30 days before the requested start date, but they are not reviewed until the student’s SEVIS record has transferred to Trine University.

Additionally, Trine University permits students to enjoy summer breaks while maintaining their CPT eligibility, making it an ideal choice for those prioritizing flexibility and affordability in their CPT university selection.

📍Allen Park, Michigan

📍Phoenix, Arizona

📍Reston, Virginia

Apply Now

About & Accreditation

For over 135 years, Trine University has stood at the forefront of preparing students to excel and lead in their fields, making it a distinguished choice among Day 1 CPT universities. Academic programs, known for their hands-on experience and real-world project integration, are tailored to foster success in Day 1 CPT participants. With faculty mentors committed to nurturing both academic and life ambitions, state-of-the-art facilities, and alumni who leave a lasting impact, Trine University embodies the excellence sought by students pursuing Day 1 CPT opportunities. Their commitment to high standards in education is recognized by top publications such as U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review, reinforcing its status as a leading institution for Day 1 CPT programs.

📍 Detroit Education Center: 999 Republic Drive, Suite 100, Allen Park, MI 48101-3636

📍 Phoenix Education Center: 2900 S Diablo Way, Building D, Suite D281, Tempe, AZ 85282

📍 Reston Education Center: 1881 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 203, Reston, VA 20191

Accreditations:

The Higher Learning Commission

Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

* In addition, Trine University is ranked by US News as 18th in Regional Colleges Midwest, 16th in Best Value Schools

CPT Policy

Trine University follows the regulations of USCIS to authorize international students for CPT work. All of Trine's graduate degree programs are Experiential tracks, which means that internships/jobs are part of the program. Eligible students may apply for CPT at the beginning of their program. Incoming students can submit a CPT application up to 30 days before their requested employment start date, but Trine will not review the application until the student's SEVIS record has been transferred to the university.

An additional 0.5 credit course is required for each semester when applying for CPT.

CPT employment may begin on or after the student's official program start date, provided the CPT application has been approved and the student has received a CPT-authorized Form I-20. CPT may be authorized for up to one year at a time. Students who wish to continue CPT with the same employer must submit a new CPT extension application before their current authorization expires.

If an employer does not sign Trine University's experiential learning agreement, the employer may instead provide a letter containing the information required by Trine. If the employer refuses both options, the student cannot work for that employer under CPT.

On-Site Requirements

Trine University operates on a three-semester academic calendar: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Summer is a shorter term of approximately two months, while Fall and Spring are long terms of about three and a half months, divided into Term 1 and Term 2. Each semester has breaks.

International students are required to take at least two courses per semester, totaling 6 credits. Students can choose one hybrid course with an onsite component and one fully online course. Only one onsite class is required per semester, which takes place on a weekend from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. The school is planning to increase the onsite frequency to one per semester or one per term. Attending onsite classes is mandatory, and failure to do so may result in the loss of F1 status.

Apart from the one-day onsite class, most courses are delivered through the online learning management system, Moodle. Only a small portion of courses are conducted through live Zoom sessions, while the majority are pre-recorded or optional Zoom discussions. This provides great flexibility for students to schedule their studies.

During the summer term, students can take a break (without completing a full academic year), and still apply for a 0.5 credit CPT course to work full-time with CPT.

*It is important to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above during enrollment to avoid graduation delays or termination of full-time CPT.

Day 1 CPT Programs

Master's Degrees

MBA

MS BA (STEM)

Master of Science in Engineering Management (STEM)

Master of Science in Information Studies (STEM)

Doctoral Degrees

Doctor of Information Technology (STEM)

Tuition & Scholarship

Tuition & Fees

Master's Programs

Tuition: $575 per credit
Degree credits: 30
Base degree tuition: $17,250

Doctor of Information Technology

Tuition: $700 per credit
Degree credits: 60
Base degree tuition: $42,000

Additional Costs

International Enrollment Fee: $500 one time
CPT Course (BA 6000Z Graduate Internship): $287.50 per semester of CPT authorization
Health insurance: required for international students; cost varies by coverage period and academic year

Students participating in CPT must enroll in and successfully complete the CPT course every semester in which they are authorized to work, including summer when applicable. The CPT course is separate from the credits required for the degree.

Academic Calendar

Semester	Application Deadline	Class Start	Earliest CPT Start*
Fall I 2026	August 10, 2026	August 24, 2026	July 27, 2026
Fall II 2026	October 12, 2026	October 26, 2026	September 28, 2026
Spring I 2027	December 23, 2026	January 11, 2027	December 14, 2026
Spring II 2027	February 24, 2027	March 15, 2027	February 15, 2027

Trine University's graduate program is divided into 5 terms per academic year, and students can apply for any term.

*Trine University's graduate program uses a rolling admission model. If the enrollment for the current term is full, admission will be stopped.

It is recommended that students apply at least 1 month in advance (International students on an Initial F1 visa are recommended to apply 3 months in advance). CPTDog is the official enrollment representative of Trine University, and students can contact us in advance to reserve a spot.

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

Application Deadlines

F1 transfer students (F1/OPT/CPT): 4 weeks before the first day of the term
Others: 3 months before the first day of the term

*If you passed the deadline, contact our consultant for help. We are the official admission partner of Westcliff University and can help you streamline your application process.

Application Guide

Apply through CPTDog:

Contact us, our consultant will work you through the application process step by step and waive certain fees if applicable.

Apply on Trine's official website:

Before going to Trine's website to start the application, prepare the following documents:

Academic transcripts
Financial Statement
Copy of passport
Statement of purpose (explaining your desire to pursue a graduate degree)
Resume/CV
GRE/GMAT (is recommended but not required)
English placement test score of:
IBT TOEFL 79
PTE 58
IELTS 6.5 overall and a 6.0 minimum on any section
Duolingo 95
NETPAW C1
GETPAW C1
English test exemption qualification

For us to help you to track your application process, assist with future CPT applications, and reserve the opportunity to get a $200 referral fee in the future when recommending us to your friends:

when asked "Please tell us how you heard about Trine University", please choose "International Agent "
when asked, "Are you applying via an agent?", please select "Yes"
when asked to "List Agency's Name if Applicable", write "GoElite Inc."
when asked to "List Agency's Email if applicable", fill in "info@goelite.us"

It usually takes 3-4 weeks to receive the result after applying. If you’re in an emergency and need to receive the offer ASAP, contact us, we’re here to help! We will assist with expediting the application, and students will receive the result and transfer SEVIS as soon as 3 days.

Concentrations

Specialization Options

Self-Design
Management
Human Resource Management
Marketing

Core Courses - 7 courses (21 credits)

AC 5023 — Managerial Accounting for MBA
BA 5223 — Executive Communication
BA 6933 — Statistics & Quantitative Methods
ECO 5033 — Micro & Macro Economic Decision Making
FIN 5063 — Corporate Finance
MK 6943 — Strategic Marketing Management
BA 6963 — Business Administration Capstone or BA 6803 — Curricular Practical Training Capstone

Elective Courses - Choose 3 Courses (9 credits)

AC 5003 Advanced Auditing

AC 5013 Managerial Accounting AC 533 Corporate Taxation

AC 553 Federal Tax Pass-Through Entities

FIN 5823 Financial Modeling

FIN 5833 International Finance

FIN 5843 Financial Markets & Institutions

FIN 5853 Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management

GE 5103 Project Management

GE 5113 New Product Development & Innovation Strategy

GE 5133 Lean Six Sigma

HR 5923 Strategic Human Resources

BA 5103 Business Ethics

Master of Science in Business Analytics (STEM)

A Master of Science in Business Analytics from Trine University is designed to meet the growing demand across the nation. Business analytics focuses on developing new insights and understanding of business performance based on data and statistical methods. A variety of industries need individuals who will have the education and expertise to collect, analyze and interpret information to make fact-based strategic business decisions.

*MSBA requires 30 credit hours.

MSBA Courses - 10 Courses (30 Credits)

Program Requirements:

GE 5103 Project Management

BA 6933 Statistics and Quantitative Methods

BAN 5003 Operations Analytics

BAN 5013 Analytics Software and Tools

IS 5113 Data Mining and Data Visualization

IS 5213 Data Science and Big Data

FIN 5063 Corporate Finance

FIN 5823 Financial Modeling

BAN 5023 Data Driving Decision Making

BAN 6093 Business Analytics Capstone

Master of Science in Engineering Management (STEM)

You will gain a mastery of corporate culture, leadership, finance, operations strategy, and marketing. Your courses will include business ethics, public speaking, and decision-making classes that are geared toward the technical professional. You will also learn product development and innovation from Trine’s business and engineering faculty.

*The Master of Science in Engineering Management requires 30 credit hours.

Master of Science in Engineering Management

Core Courses - 21 credit hours

BA 5223 — Executive Communication
BA 6933 — Statistics & Quantitative Methods
GE 5113 — New Product Development & Innovation Strategies
GE 5103 — Project Management
GE 5213 — Total Quality Management
LDR 5113 — Organizational Leadership for Engineers
GE 6963 — Engineering Management Capstone OR BA 6803 — Applied Learning Capstone

Specialization Options – 9 Credits

Option 1: Self-Design

Choose 9 credits from the following program electives:

GE 5093 — Design Thinking
GE 5133 — Lean Six Sigma
MGT 5013 — Advanced Plant Management
MGT 543 — Operations Strategy & Management
SYS 5013 — Systems Engineering Analysis
SYS 5113 — Systems Validation and Testing
SYS 5213 — Model Based Systems Engineering

Option 2: Systems Engineering (SE)

SYS 5013 — Systems Engineering Analysis
SYS 5113 — Systems Validation and Testing
SYS 5213 — Model Based Systems Engineering

Option 3: Operational Excellence (OPEX)

GE 5133 — Lean Six Sigma or GE 5093 — Design Thinking
MGT 5013 — Advanced Plant Management
MGT 543 — Operations Strategy & Management

Admission requirement: Applicants to the MSEM program must hold a degree in engineering.

Master of Science in Information Studies (STEM)

you will grow your leadership and business skills so you can advance to the next level in your career. You will use the managerial process and tools for effective management and leadership, assess and leverage the impact of information technology to enhance business competitiveness optimize business management, and develop professional communication skills in public speaking, public relations, and electronic media.

*The Master of Science in Information Studies requires 30 credit hours.

MSIS Courses - 30 credit hours

BA 6933 — Statistics & Quantitative Methods
GE 5103 — Project Management
INF 503 — Advanced Database
IS 5103 — Object-Oriented Programming in Java
IS 5203 / DIT 7003 — Network Management
IS 5213 / DIT 7023 — Data Science & Big Data
IS 5403 / DIT 7013 — Cybersecurity
IS 5503 — Cloud Computing
SYS 5013 — Systems Engineering Analysis
IS 5803 — Information Studies Capstone
or
BA 6803 — Applied Learning Capstone

Admission requirement: Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in a related field or have at least three years of full-time-equivalent professional work experience in a field related to the program.

Program Core Courses - 27 credit hours

IS 5203 / DIT 7003 — Network Management
IS 5403 / DIT 7013 — Cybersecurity
IS 5213 / DIT 7023 — Data Science & Big Data
BAN 5013 / DIT 7033 — Analytics Software & Tools
DIT 7043 — IT for Management
DIT 7053 — IT Procurement Processes
DIT 7063 — IT Project Management
DIT 7073 — Innovations in IT
DIT 7083 — Computer Science with Python

Program Research Courses (15 credits)

RSH 7093 — Research Statistics for Information Technology
RSH 8003 — Quantitative Research Methods
RSH 8013 — Qualitative Research Methods
RSH 8023 — Research Design
RSH 8033 — Advanced Research Methodology

Program Dissertation Courses (18 credits)

DIT 9006 DIT Research Proposal Prep
DIT 9016 DIT Applied Research Project I
DIT 9026 DIT Applied Research Project II

CPT at Trine - FAQs

Have Question? We are here to help

Is Trine University one of the Day 1 CPT Universities?

“Day 1 CPT” is an informal term used to describe programs in which eligible F-1 students may be authorized for Curricular Practical Training at the beginning of their program. At Trine University, eligible students in qualifying experiential learning programs may begin CPT on or after their official program start date once CPT has been approved and they have received a CPT-authorized Form I-20.

Which programs at Trine University offer a CPT option from the start of the program?

If you are interested in using CPT, you may want to consider these programs:

MBA
MSBA
MSEM
MSIS
Doctor of IT

CPT program cost at Trine University?

Starting from $17,250 / Program

On-site Frequency

1 / Semester

Why is Trine University popular among international students?

Trine University understands international students' needs. Its CPT programs are designed to integrate internship with classroom study. Although not identified as Day 1 CPT universities, they allow students to start using CPT at the beginning of the program. Eligible students may begin CPT on or after their official program start date once CPT authorization has been approved. Moreover, students only need to renew their CPT authorization once per year. Trine's tuition is also very acceptable.