CIP codes, explained

A CIP code is a Classification of Instructional Programs code: the standard federal taxonomy the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) uses to identify and group academic programs. Every U.S. college major maps to a 6-digit CIP code, which is how programs are counted in IPEDS and the College Scorecard. The current edition is CIP 2020.

Source: NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode. Indexed against 399 Clema program pages across 38 CIP families.

How a CIP code is structured

A full CIP code has six digits, written as two digits, a period, then four digits. Each level narrows the field: the 2-digit series is the broad area, the 4-digit code is the program group, and the 6-digit code is the specific instructional program.

LevelExample codeTitle
2-digit series11Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
4-digit program11.07Computer Science
6-digit program11.0701Computer Science, General

Clema's program pages sit at the 4-digit CIP tier. Browse the 2-digit families on programs by field, see the full CIP-to-SOC crosswalk, or jump straight to any CIP program below.

Browse programs by CIP code

Every CIP program Clema indexes, grouped under its 2-digit NCES family. Each entry links to that program's national page, ranked by graduate earnings.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CIP code?+

A CIP code is a Classification of Instructional Programs code: the standard federal taxonomy the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) uses to identify and group academic programs. Every U.S. college major maps to a CIP code, which is how programs are counted in IPEDS and the College Scorecard.

How many digits is a CIP code?+

A full CIP code has six digits, written as two digits, a period, then four digits (for example 11.0701). The 2-digit series is the broad field, the 4-digit code is the intermediate program group, and the 6-digit code is the specific instructional program.

Who assigns CIP codes?+

CIP codes are maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education. NCES revises the taxonomy roughly every ten years; the current edition is CIP 2020, which took effect for the 2020 to 2021 IPEDS collection.

What is the difference between a CIP code and a SOC code?+

A CIP code classifies a program of study; a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code classifies a job. NCES and the Bureau of Labor Statistics publish a CIP to SOC crosswalk that links each field of study to the occupations graduates typically enter.

What is the current CIP edition?+

CIP 2020 is the current edition, published by NCES and used for IPEDS reporting since the 2020 to 2021 collection year. It succeeds CIP 2010 and CIP 2000, adding, retiring, and renumbering codes to reflect new fields such as data science and cybersecurity.

Are CIP codes used for STEM OPT?+

Yes. The Department of Homeland Security uses CIP codes to define its STEM Designated Degree Program List, which determines whether an international graduate qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.

Can Clema look up programs by CIP code?+

Yes. Clema indexes every CIP program with its earnings, cost, and offering institutions, so you can search by CIP code, program name, or field and get an answer without pulling the raw IPEDS or College Scorecard files yourself.

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