Beyond H1B

CA · Day 1 CPT

California Institute of Advanced Management

The California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) is a nonprofit, WASC-accredited graduate school in Alhambra, California, built around a practical, project-based MBA in Executive Management with concentrations in Business Analytics and Project Management. Small classes and applied coursework let students take classroom work straight into real business problems.

A graduate working in a U.S. office during practical training
Day 1 CPT institution

Alhambra, California

Scholarship terms publish once the partnership is signed

Visit official site
  • Small cohorts with an executive-management focus
  • Two onsite visits per four-month term, the rest online
  • Per-credit tuition of $751 with no CPT fee in the first two semesters

Application fee

Pending verification

No figure published without a calculation basis.

Avg. annual tuition

$13,518

Basis: cost_per_credit ($751) x 18 credits per academic year

Program duration

12 to 32 months

Basis: Published program length range for the MBA in Executive Management

Avg. processing time

Pending verification

No figure published without a calculation basis.

CPT from overseas

No

CPT on change of status

No

Employment mandatory

Unverified

01Overview

The California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) is a nonprofit, WASC-accredited graduate school in Alhambra, California, built around a practical, project-based MBA in Executive Management with concentrations in Business Analytics and Project Management. Small classes and applied coursework let students take classroom work straight into real business problems.

Institution typePrivate nonprofit
CampusesAlhambra
StatesCA
External rankingPending verification

We link the accreditor's own directory rather than the school's claim, so you can verify accreditation without leaving the trail we used.

02Programs

ProgramLevelSTEMCreditsPer creditTotal costConditions
Master of Business Administration in Executive ManagementMaster's-36$751$27,036None stated
MBA in Executive Management, Concentration in Business AnalyticsMaster's-36$751$27,036None stated
MBA in Executive Management, Concentration in Project ManagementMaster's-36$751$27,036None stated

Per-credit and total cost are computed from credits and total cost, never entered by hand. Programs that are not currently enrolling are removed from this table rather than listed as unavailable. Tuition conditions (for example, second-master's pricing) appear in the row they apply to.

03Terms and deadlines

TermStart dateF-1 transfer deadlineNew F-1 deadlineLate transfer
Fall I 20262026-08-292026-08-072026-06-29Late SEVIS transfers are accepted subject to case-by-case review.
Fall II 20262026-10-172026-09-252026-08-17Late SEVIS transfers are accepted subject to case-by-case review.

04Tuition, fees and scholarships

Payment planNot available
Proof of fundsPending verification

Additional fees

  • Additional INT599 internship course beyond the required sequence (Per term)$500

Scholarships

Scholarship amounts, fee waivers and processing times describe a commercial relationship. They publish only once the agreement with the institution is signed.

05Format and attendance

Onsite frequencyBi-monthly
Onsite scheduleTwo onsite visits per term, with each term lasting about four months. The first visit runs a full weekend, Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The second visit falls near the end of the term, Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All remaining classes are online.
Onsite locationAlhambra, California
Online course limitPending verification
Minimum credits per termPending verification
Missed-attendance consequencePending verification

Annual travel burden: about 6 round trips a year, roughly $1,500 - $3,000 per year. Travel is often larger than the tuition gap between two schools, so we compute it rather than leaving you to.

06CPT policy

Current F-1 / OPT Yes
Overseas applicants No
Change of status No
SEVIS reinstatement Unverified
Excluded prior statusPending verification
Renewal cadencePer semester
Required for graduation No
Employment mandatory throughout Unverified
Weekly hours20 - ? hrs
Multiple jobsPositions may be paid or unpaid, part-time at 20 hours or less per week or full-time above 20 hours. Each INT course requires at least 45 work hours.
Employer agreement required Unverified
CPT during breaksAllowed
CPT processing timePending verification
GPA threshold for CPTPending verification

Current F-1 and OPT students may be authorized for CPT from day one. Overseas applicants and change-of-status applicants are not eligible from day one. Practical training runs through the INT501 and INT599 internship courses, and CPT approval must be in place before registering for either.

Integral CPT is only lawful when the employment is a required, credit-bearing part of your program of study, authorized on your I-20 by the DSO, and matched by continuous full-time enrollment. Twelve or more months of full-time CPT at one degree level removes OPT eligibility at that level.

07Admissions

Minimum GPA2.8
GPA flexibilityFlexible admission review for applicants between a 2.8 and 3.0 GPA.
English thresholdsTOEFL 79 · IELTS 6.5 · PTE 58 · Duolingo 105
English waiverWaivers may be available depending on prior instruction in English; confirm with admissions.
Interview Unverified
Transfer creditPending verification
  • Highest transcript
  • Resume
  • Passport
  • Financial proof

Where Beyond H1B can advocate for an exception (for example an English-test waiver), we describe it as advocacy. The decision belongs to the institution.

08Institution FAQs

What CPT-integrated programs does CIAM offer?
The MBA in Executive Management, plus concentrations in Business Analytics and Project Management. Internship courses INT501 and INT599 carry the practical training component.
How often are onsite classes required?
Twice per term. Terms run about four months, so the first onsite is a full weekend and the second is a single Saturday near the end of the term. Everything else is online.
Is CPT mandatory for international students?
CPT itself is not required of every student, but graduation requires completing INT501 in the first year and INT599 in the second. The role must relate directly to the MBA, may be paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time, and each INT course requires at least 45 work hours.
Which positions qualify for the internship courses?
Roles in project or people management, marketing, advertising, social media, accounting, finance, budgeting, innovation and entrepreneurship, data analysis, or other business administrative duties.
Are scholarships available for international students?
Yes. CIAM offers institutional scholarships in the $1,000 to $3,000 range and above. Payment plans are not available.
When should CPT applications be submitted?
Before registering for any INT course. Authorization is renewed each semester, and the first INT501 and first INT599 are included in tuition.

09Comparable institutions

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Last verified: 2026-08-15 · Owner: Beyond H1B editorial · Review cadence: Every academic term

Partnership status: none. Fee waivers, processing times and scholarship amounts stay empty until an agreement is signed.

Beyond H1B is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Program details change; confirm accreditation, curriculum and CPT policy directly with the institution and a licensed immigration attorney.

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