National Louis University｜Accredited Day 1 CPT Program in Chicago

University Overview

National Louis University (NLU), founded in 1886, is a private institution based in Chicago, Illinois.

With campuses throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and a regional campus in Tampa, Florida, NLU serves a diverse student body—including international students from 13 counties in Central Florida. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs across its four colleges.

Accreditation

Founded in 1886, National Louis University (NLU) has a long-standing legacy in advancing education. It played a pioneering role in launching the National Kindergarten Movement, establishing the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and championing academic and professional training in early childhood education.

NLU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a division of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2023, Washington Monthly ranked NLU No. 30 among Best National Universities and No. 1 for ‘Best Bang for Your Buck’ in the Midwest

Locations

National Louis University (NLU) offers students the flexibility of studying in two vibrant locations: Chicago, Illinois, and Tampa, Florida.

The Chicago campus, at 122 S. Michigan Avenue, is centrally located downtown with easy access to CTA trains, buses, and Metra lines—ideal for commuting and surrounded by cultural and professional opportunities.
The Tampa campus, at 5110 Sunforest Drive, is near major highways and Tampa International Airport, with free parking and public transit via HART buses—offering convenience for students across Central Florida.

National Louis University (NLU) offers professionally focused graduate programs with clear academic structures and flexible locations.

The Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) program, available in Tampa, Florida, requires 60 credits and can be completed in 40 months. Students can choose from four concentrations: Accounting, International Business, Marketing, and Management—designed to prepare professionals for leadership roles in academia or industry.

The Master of Science in Business Data Analytics (STEM-designated) program is offered in both Chicago, Illinois and Tampa, Florida. The program requires 30 credits and is designed to be completed in just 15 months, equipping students with advanced analytical and technical skills in high demand across industries.

CPT is an integral part of the program. MSOL, MSBDA and DBA at NLU supports day 1 CPT. Your internship has to be relevant to what you’ve learned in the class.

Requires 30 semester hours for completion
Requires to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher
Students who earn a grade below a “C” in any course must retake the course. It is recommended that the course be retaken the next time it is available to remove the continued negative impact on the student’s GPA.

CPT Application

Submit CPT application materials (Offer Letter, contractual agreements signed by employers, etc.) to the school DSO.
After your DSO approved your application, you will receive a CPT i-20. on which CPT start and end time will be listed.
No extra charge is needed for applying for CPT
Remember to renew your CPT approval when required.

Onsite classes are held once per semester, typically at the beginning of each semester or quarter.

Students are required to attend one full onsite weekend—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—while completing the rest of their coursework online through the university’s learning management system.

Campbellsville University, in accordance with USCIS regulations, grants CPT work authorization to students. Typically, international students need to be enrolled for over a year before they can apply for CPT.

Due to program requirements, students in the MSITM and PMBA programs can apply for CPT authorization starting from their first semester and engage in either full-time or part-time work. The MSCS, MSCC, and MSDSAI programs allow students who have already obtained a Master's degree in the US to apply for CPT authorization from their first semester for either full-time or part-time work.

Students in these five programs can continuously apply for CPT during their studies without interruption. To utilize CPT, students need to enroll in the BA500 Graduate Management Externship Course (0 credits) every semester. CPT authorization needs to be renewed annually.

Day 1 CPT at Campbellsville University

Day 1 CPT Class Requirement

Campbellsville University's graduate program is divided into three semesters in a year: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Each semester is further divided into two terms. Students in the Day-1 CPT program register for 6 credits each semester, which includes one 3-credit hybrid course and one 3-credit online course.

The hybrid course lasts for 16 weeks (2 terms) and has an in-person session over one weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Students who fail to attend will lose their F1 student status.

Academic Calendar 2025 - 2026

Terms	Start Date	Application Deadline	Earliest CPT Date	Enrollment Deadline
DBA Winter 2025	01/13/2025	12/30/2024	12/13/2024	01/12/2025
MS Winter 2025	01/13/2025	12/30/2024	12/13/2024	01/12/2025
MS Spring 2025	04/07/2025	03/24/2025	03/07/2025	04/06/2025
DBA Summer 2025	05/12/2025	04/28/2025	04/12/2025	05/11/2025
MS Summer 2025	06/30/2025	06/16/2025	05/30/2025	06/29/2025
DBA Fall 2025	08/25/2025	08/11/2025	07/24/2025	08/24/2025
MS Fall 2025	09/22/2025	09/08/2025	08/22/2025	09/21/2025
DBA Winter 2026	01/12/2026	12/26/2025	12/12/2025	01/11/2026
MS Winter 2026	01/19/2026	01/05/2026	12/19/2025	01/18/2026

Initial F1 Students: 2 months before the first day of the term.

If you missed the deadline, please get in touch with us. We are the official recruitment partner of the university; we can help you accelerate your application.

Hybrid Professional Programs at NLU

MS Business Data Analytics [STEM]

The MS Business Data Analytics program is a 15-month, 5-quarter, 30-credit, STEM-designated, full-time hybrid program. Each quarter you will take two 3-credit courses (one course is fully online and the other includes a face-to-face, on-campus weekend session once per quarter. You will take one class at a time)—total 30 credits; 6 credits per quarter; 4 quarters per year.

Foundational Courses

BDA 500 Introduction to Business Data Analytics 3
BDA 502 Statistics for Business Data Analytics 3
RES 510 Critical Thinking and Research Skills 3

Capstone Course

BDA 550 Business Analytics Capstone 3
Core Courses
BDA 505 Security and Ethics for Business Data Analytics 3
BDA 506 Big Data Management and Databases 3
BDA 507 Data-Driven Decisions and Strategy 3
BDA 508 Predictive Analytics and Forecasting 3
BDA 509 Data Visualization and Communication in Business Analytics 3
BDA 510 Emerging Topics in Business Data Analytics 3

Doctorate of Business Administration (Tampa Only)

Designed for experienced business and academic professionals, the DBA program builds on master’s-level knowledge to develop advanced skills in leadership, strategic thinking, decision-making, and research. Students apply their learning through a hands-on business practicum and gain access to a global network of peers and industry experts.

The program’s blended format combines online coursework with one on-campus weekend immersion per term, offering flexibility for working professionals worldwide.

Optional concentrations include Accounting, International Business, Marketing, and Management.

The program consists of 60 total credits plus a dissertation, with students typically completing 6 credits per semester across 3 semesters per year. A master’s degree in business or a related field is required for admission. Full-time students can complete the DBA in approximately 40 months.

MS Organizational Leadership

The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) equips you with the leadership, analytical, and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in management roles across industries.
Designed to align with your professional goals and personal strengths, the program helps you become a dynamic leader who can inspire teams and drive organizational success.

Program Core Course

BUS503 - Leadership and Organizational Behavio
BUS506 - Ethics in the Workplace
BUS576 - Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Innovation
LAP526 - Psychology of Organizational Leadership
LAP589 - Capstone in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
OBD550 - Culture of Learning Organizations
OBD533 - Organizational Effectiveness and Development
OBD551 - Diversity and Inclusion in the Organizational Culture
PPA503 - Leadership of Public/Nonprofit Organizations
RES510 - Critical Thinking and Research Skills

Application

Step 1: Contact us & Create an Account

Create an account on NLU's Online Profile

Step 2: Upload the Following Materials

Application Form: Request your personalized DocuSign application form using the button above
Goal Statement: Upload a maximum 2-page goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the program
Professional Resume: Upload a professional resume showing your work experience. At least 3 years of full-time managerial or professional experience is required
Degree Certificates and Transcripts: Upload all university transcripts even if a degree was not earned. Transcripts from a US university where a degree was earned must show the degree conferral date or graduation date.
For admission, a Master's degree in business or a business-related discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. If a degree has not been earned from a US institution, then foreign transcripts must be evaluated by ECE, WES, Educational Perspectives or any NACES-certified transcript evaluation company. Students must request a course-by-course GPA evaluation for US equivalence.
Two Current Letters of Recommendation: Upload two current letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic sources. Letters from family members will not be accepted. Letters must be dated and signed.
Proof of English Proficiency
Upload official test results. TOEFL score of 80 IBT; IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band scores below 6.0; Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 54; Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 105. Proof of English proficiency is not required if you have studied or worked in the USA
Passport：Upload photo and address page of passport. Students already in the US must also upload a copy of their visa, current I-20, and most recent I-94 document.
Financial Support
Upload a bank statement showing $22,000 in financial support. Alternate documents include loans, credit card statements showing available credit, or sponsor bank statements with a signed/dated sponsorship letter. Additional amounts will need to be shown for dependents (spouse $5,000, children $3,000).

Step 3: Receive the Offer Letter

The application deadline is 2 weeks before the program start date if you are already in the US with a valid visa. Otherwise, the application deadline is 8 weeks before the program start date.

The university reserves the right to stop accepting applications at any time should classes reach capacity.

FAQ - Hybrid Professional Master's Program at NLU

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
MS Business Data Analytics Program (MSBDA)
MS Organization Leadership

MS Quarter cost: $4,740 (5 total quarters). The tuition is the same every quarter and must be paid in full by the start of each quarter. The total program cost is $23,700.
The DBA program has a set tuition structure of $4,992 per semester, which includes CPT fees. Typically, the DBA program takes 10 semesters to complete, with a total program cost of $49,920.

If you are in the US with a valid I-20, kindly apply two weeks ahead. Otherwise, please make sure to prepare for at least eight weeks.

*Don't worry if you miss the application deadline! Simply contact us.

🚨Disclaimer: The term "Day 1 CPT Universities" commonly refers to universities that allow students to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) at the start of their first semester. However, getting CPT approval on the first day of the program is not automatic or guaranteed and depends on submitting a complete application on time. In most cases, CPT approval takes 5 to 15 business days after the university receives the required documents.

✓ One-on-One Free Consultation

✓ Personalized Hybrid Professional Programs List

✓ Application Fee Waiver & Application Assistant

✓ Scholarship Opportunities

✓ Connecting to the Admission Officer to Get Pre-Approval

✓ Premium Process - Get an Offer and I-20 within 3 days [added-value service]

*Our consultants are committed to providing a seamless experience. Once you initiate a case with us, you will be assigned a specific consultant who will thoroughly understand your case, ensuring that there's no need for you to repeat information each time you call. We will not change your consultant unless you request it.