Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)
CIP code overview
The Classificaton of Instructional Programs
(CIP) code system is maintained by the
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and used
in higher education data releases from the Department of Education to codify majors.
NCES also provides a crosswalk between CIP codes and the
SOC codes used to identify
occupations that most naturally would follow study within CIP programs.
What is the CIP code structure?
CIP codes are provided at a 6-, 4-, and 2-digit level allowing detailed course designations to be considered in major and broad umbrella categories. Ididio combines the approximately fifty broad categories into 11 for our first view of programs offered by schools, and we additionally provide enrollment and program information at the most detailed CIP level.
CIP codes over time
The CIP code structure was revised in 1990, 2000, and 2010. In order to show programs over time, we downloaded the listings for changed CIP codes from the CIP search page for years 1990 and 2000, and in spreadsheet form from the resources page for 2010. When CIP codes were split into multiple codes, we simply mapped the older code into the code which currently has the most completions.
What careers are possible?
When determining careers that correspond to CIP classifications, we have two options. For programs that include many college-level graduates, we use ACS microdata survey data that allows us to use connect college majors to eventual careers as well as a host of other details (please read Ididio: Program classification for more details about this link). For programs that are generally at a certificate or associate's level, we use the Department of Education's crosswalk from the current CIP designations to the upcoming 2020 CIP designations, followed by their crosswalk from the new CIP codes to the 2018 SOC codes.
Finding the data
We use the 2010 CIP Definitions as well as the CIP 2010 to SOC 2010 Crosswalk that are available on the CIP 2010 Resources page at the Department of Education. We last accessed the definitions and the crosswalk on November 24, 2016.
