OPT Employment Outcomes of Duke F-1 International Students

If you’re an international student on an F-1 visa searching for opportunities in the USA, it can be helpful to identify employers open to Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), or visa sponsorship. This can be challenging, as employer policies often change.

Several tools—like visa sponsor databases and browser extensions—can help you find companies that hire international candidates. While it’s important to do your own research, this data on where Duke students have worked on OPT in recent years may offer a useful starting point.

What is OPT?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows F-1 students to work in the U.S. for up to one year after graduation in a job related to their major. Students with STEM degrees may qualify for a two-year extension. Learn more on the Duke Visa Services website.

Important things to know before viewing this data:

  • This data includes self-reported OPT employment information from Duke F-1 visa holders between 2019 and early 2025. This data is not comprehensive and excludes a significant number of OPT employment outcomes.
  • Some students may have reported an employer they intended to work for, but circumstances may have changed, and they might not have actually started the position.
  • Employer hiring policies frequently change. Inclusion in this dataset does not guarantee that a company is currently hiring F-1 visa holders on OPT.
  • Some companies only hire international students for specific roles or teams (e.g., software engineering, but not marketing).
  • Many employers that hire international students are not represented in this dataset.
  • Even if a company has never hired international students before, they may still be open to doing so.
  • For the most up-to-date information, research employers directly, attend info sessions, and reach out to alumni and recruiters at your target organizations.

Remember, you are not alone in your job or internship search! For more information and support, visit our International Affinity Page or schedule and appointment with a career advisor on Handshake.