S1 School Facts: National Louis University

Facts as of October 2026. Schools can change their rules, so confirm with us before you apply.

Where you study

• Campus locations: Florida and Illinois.
• How often you come to campus: once a semester.

Who can get Day 1 CPT

Day 1 CPT means you can start CPT (work authorization tied to your program) from day one.

• Transfer (F-1 from another US school): Yes
• New F-1 from abroad: Yes
• Change of status (to F-1 inside the US): Yes
• Reinstatement (restoring terminated F-1 status): Not confirmed — our senior admission consultant can check your case
• End of status / grace period (program or OPT finished): Not confirmed — our senior admission consultant can check your case

Job and employer requirements

• CPT is a required part of the program.
• Employer documents are required; an employment verification letter (EVL) is accepted.
• CPT is renewed once a year and can start up to 30 days before your program start date.
• If you lose your job during the program, there's a 90-day grace period. Details can vary, so check with us.

Academic and English requirements

• Minimum GPA: 3.0.
• English test waived if you've studied or worked in the US.
• Minimum scores: TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5 (no section below 6) or Duolingo 105.
• DBA: at least 3 years of full-time management or professional experience.

Costs

• Estimated total tuition: $23,700 (DBA costs more). Fees are extra.
• No deposit.
• Proof of funds (money you show for your I-20): $32,000 (DBA: $24,000), via bank statements or a sponsor's affidavit of support.

Application documents and timing

• Documents: online application, passport, transcripts from every school you attended and proof of funds, plus a 2-page statement of purpose, a resume and 2 recommendation letters (not from family).
• Foreign degree: a NACES credential evaluation (approved US evaluator) is accepted.
• You can transfer in up to 6 credits.
• Deadline: usually about 14 days before the start date for transfers (this can differ by term, so confirm with us), about 61 days for change of status.
• Admission decision: usually 1–2 weeks for transfers, 2–3 weeks for change of status.
• Ask us for the next start date.