CIP Codes

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) is the taxonomic coding scheme used for instructional programs in higher education in the United States. Its purpose is to facilitate the organization, collection, and reporting of fields of study and program completions.

The CIP is the accepted federal government statistical standard on instructional program classifications and is used in a variety of education surveys and databases, giving higher education institutions the ability to make comparisons to peer institutions.

What is a CIP code and how is it used?

The CIP code is a six-digit number (xx.xxxx) that identifies instructional programs. The first two digits represent the most general grouping of related programs and are meant to encompass all instructional programs offered by all institutions of higher education in the United States. The four-digit code represents a more specific program within the general grouping, and the six-digit code is the most detailed program classification, representing a very specific instructional field of study.

The CIP titles and program descriptions are intended to be generic categories into which program completion data can be placed, not exact duplicates of specific majors or field of study titles used by individual institutions.

Two-digit CIP code groupings
CIP code	Instructional program
01	Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
03	Natural Resources and Conservation
04	Architecture and Related Services
05	Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
09	Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
10	Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
11	Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
12	Personal and Culinary Services
13	Education
14	Engineering
15	Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
16	Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
19	Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
22	Legal Professions and Studies
23	English Language and Literature/Letters
24	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities
25	Library Science
26	Biological and Biomedical Sciences
27	Mathematics and Statistics
28	Military Science, Leadership, and Operational Art
29	Military Technologies and Applied Sciences
30	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
31	Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
38	Philosophy and Religious Studies
39	Theology and Religious Vocations
40	Physical Sciences
41	Science Technologies/Technicians
42	Psychology
43	Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Service
44	Public Administration and Social Service Professions
45	Social Sciences
46	Construction Trades
47	Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
48	Precision Production
49	Transportation and Materials Moving
50	Visual and Performing Arts
51	Health Professions and Related Programs
52	Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
54	History

Assignment of CIP codes at IU Indianapolis

A key part of a proposal for a new academic program is the selection of an appropriate CIP code based on the anticipated curriculum. It is important to ensure accurate assignment of a CIP code to each new program so that reports comparing IU Indianapolis with other institutions provide an accurate comparison of similar programs.

The CIP code chosen for a new program will be evaluated during the proposal approval process. When a new program has received final approval from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the CIP code and program title are added to the state’s Academic Program Inventory, the official inventory of programs offered by higher education institutions in Indiana.

Find out more about selecting a CIP code

The National Center for Education Statistics’ CIP User Site provides detailed information about CIP codes, including a listing of all current CIP codes.

Visit the CIP User Site

CIP code resources at IU Indianapolis

At IU Indianapolis, CIP codes are stored in the Student Information System. A list of the CIP codes associated with current academic plans is available in the Indiana University Information Environment and can most easily be accessed through these reports:

The Current Academic Plans report (PSE_CUR_ACAD_PLAN_GT) provides a list of all current academic plans (majors), programs (schools/departments), and their associated CIP codes.
The CIP 2000 Table report (SR_CIP2000_GT) provides a list of all plans, active and inactive, and the CIP codes associated with them.

You can also search the IU Academic Program Inventory, the official list of academic programs and associated CIP codes on all IU campuses.