Westcliff University
Westcliff University is a Day 1 CPT school.
Before enrolling at Westcliff for Day 1 CPT
I've been seeing a lot of people recently who want to enroll at Westcliff for Day 1 CPT, and many are looking into the DBA program.
Westcliff is indeed one of the more well-known and popular CPT schools. But there are some real drawbacks you shouldn't ignore. I've been at Westcliff for over a year now, so here's my honest take. Read through before you decide whether to apply 👇
First off — Westcliff's tuition is notoriously expensive! Yes, Payment Plans are supported~
But over several years, it adds up to a significant sum:
- Master's 💲30,780
- Doctoral 💲56,400
That's pretty rough on a working person's wallet.
That said, Westcliff does have scholarships — five types in total 🖐️ You can apply if your GPA is 3.25 or above. Awards range from $2,500 to $10,000, which helps recover some of the cost.
Westcliff is not a nonprofit school.
If this is your second master's degree it won't matter, but if it's your first, think carefully — after graduation you won't be able to use the Master's Cap to enter the H-1B lottery.
The coursework is fairly heavy. Every few weeks there are presentations and group projects, and most professors are reasonable.
But! Some professors are demanding, grade harshly, and don't reply to emails — it can be really frustrating.
Also, you must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 while enrolled! Otherwise you can only use Part-time CPT, and if your GPA drops below 2.5, your CPT authorization will be revoked entirely.
CPT Process
Westcliff's CPT process is relatively well-established.
The first CPT application usually takes a few days, but renewals are much simpler — they can be done seamlessly. If your job information hasn't changed, you don't need to get your employer to re-sign.
Also, if your employer won't sign a CPT Agreement, Westcliff accepts an Employment Verification Letter (EVL) as a substitute — that's a pretty flexible policy.
One more thing many people don't know: Westcliff charges a $50 application fee, but if you apply through a school representative (校代), you can waive it.
Spend wisely, save where you can.