Comparison

Institutions and programs

The schema we hold every Integral CPT institution to - accreditation, CPT policy, on-site cadence, real total cost - so that schools can be compared on the same terms rather than on marketing.

Choosing an institution is the whole decision in Integral CPT - commonly known as Day 1 CPT. This page sets out the fields we require for every school, and the data discipline behind them.

How to compare schools

Comparison only works when every school is described in the same fields. Where a school will not publish one of these, treat the omission as information.

Dimension	What to look for
Accreditation	Regional accreditor, confirmed in the accreditor's own directory
Institution type	Public or private, non-profit or for-profit, campus locations
Programs	Degree level and field; STEM designation where claimed
Terms and deadlines	Start dates, with separate deadlines for F-1 transfers and new F-1 applicants
Tuition	Per-credit, annual and total by program; payment plan terms; named scholarships with amounts
Format	On-site attendance frequency, days and hours; vacation policy
CPT policy	Eligibility from program start by applicant category; renewal cadence; whether CPT is required for graduation; application timing; academic standing requirement
Admissions	GPA minimum, English proficiency thresholds, document checklist
Total cost	Tuition plus travel and accommodation per on-site residency

Reading a school's CPT policy

1
Is training required, or merely allowed?
Integral CPT rests on the training being a required component of an established curriculum. If the catalog treats it as optional, the basis for first-term authorization is weaker.
2
When can authorization start?
Usually the program start date. Some schools permit CPT to begin up to a month earlier. Get the answer in writing for your program, not for the institution generally.
3
How often does it renew?
Per semester or annually. Note the internal filing deadline for each renewal - a late renewal is unauthorized employment.
4
What academic standing is required?
Ask for the exact GPA threshold and what happens on a single term below it: warning, probation, or loss of authorization.

Our data discipline

One source of truth per institution - pages read from it rather than restating figures, so the same fact cannot differ across two pages.
Every institution page carries a last-verified date and a named owner.
Every statistic carries a definition and a source we hold on file.
Every stat tile has a documented calculation basis and must reconcile with the tables on its own page.
Term dates, tuition and CPT policies are re-verified each admission cycle.
Any page giving procedural guidance with a deadline, fee or eligibility rule has a second reader before publication.

Integral CPT (Day 1 CPT)Emergency transfer

Want this applied to your own timeline? We will tell you what your dates actually allow.

Talk to an advisor

This guide is general information, not legal advice, and immigration rules change. Verify every date, fee and eligibility rule against USCIS, ICE/SEVP or DOL primary sources and with your DSO or an immigration attorney before you act on it.