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CIP 2020

CIP SOC Crosswalk

Computer engineer instructing a student. The CIP SOC Crosswalk is a joint effort by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics and matches 6-digit CIP Codes from the 2020 Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) with 6-digit detailed descriptions from the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). The purpose of the crosswalk is to match postsecondary programs of study that provide graduates with specific skills and knowledge to occupations requiring those skills or knowledge to be successful.  The matches are based on the content of the CIP Code and SOC Code descriptions combined with expertise from statisticians at both federal agencies. The CIP SOC Crosswalk is not based on actual empirical data. NCES is currently exploring possible sources of data that could be used to study the accuracy of the matches in the Crosswalk.

The 2020 CIP-SOC Crosswalk is the second edition of the crosswalk and is available for download from the Resources page of the 2020 CIP website. The CIP-SOC Crosswalk was originally created to provide a resource for current and future postsecondary education students about programs that could provide the type of training they need to be successful in a particular occupation.  The CIP SOC Crosswalk has also been used to help employers identify postsecondary programs which could be a source of qualified workers. When combined with earnings and income data from US Department of Labor or from the National Student Loan Data System, it may become a powerful indicator of a student's ability to repay their student loans and of  the value of a postsecondary degree or certificate.

The CIP -SOC Crosswalk is also being used by the SEVIS Office in Immigration Control and Enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security.  SEVIS uses the Crosswalk to make decisions regarding what CIP Codes qualify as STEM Codes and therefore can extend the visas of postsecondary foreign students up to a total of 36 months for optional practical training upon graduation. An updated list of STEM Codes is expected to be released before the end of 2020. Additional information on the 2020 CIP Code Conversion can be found on the Study in the State website, while the existing list of 2010 CIP Codes that qualify as STEM codes can be downloaded here.