A CIP code is a subject classification used in education reporting. It is useful when searching for related fields, but it is not necessarily the title printed on a university's course page or diploma.

What the code does

NCES uses the Classification of Instructional Programs to organize fields and program-completion activity. A six-digit code has a form such as 11.0701. The classification can connect records whose local course titles differ.

The NCES CIP site explains the classification. CollegeVerse uses CIP 2020 names and definitions for its field directory.

Search by content as well as name

Start with the subject you want to study, then read the definition of the field. If it does not fit your interests, inspect related fields rather than assuming the first title is the only suitable classification.

For a computing interest, for example, you might want to distinguish computer science, information technology and a more specialized field. This is a research prompt, not a claim that all programs carrying a particular code share the same curriculum.

Why the award level is separate

A field classification does not tell you whether a record concerns a certificate, bachelor degree or graduate award. Use the award-level filter and read the institution's current degree page.

Comparing a bachelor completion record with a master completion record solely because the subject code matches can confuse two different study routes. The academic level and entry requirements deserve their own checks.

Understand the list of institutions

CollegeVerse's field pages connect classifications to positive first-major completions reported for July 2024–June 2025. A completion record is evidence of historical award activity. It does not guarantee a current intake or list every available course.

Absence from the list is also not proof that an institution has no related teaching. The dataset scope, reporting year and use of neighboring codes can all matter. Confirm the current program with the institution.

Build a subject shortlist

For each candidate degree, record its local title, qualification level, curriculum, teaching language and current official URL. Keep the CIP classification as a separate research field rather than replacing the university's own degree name with it.

Use the field directory to discover options and the college comparison to organize institution-level facts. Then compare the actual course structures. Two similar classifications can still lead to meaningfully different learning experiences.

For more detail on classification choices and related codes, see the official CIP FAQs.

Why are similarly named degrees listed under different codes?

A degree title and its reported subject classification serve different purposes. Verify the curriculum and the institution's own program title rather than choosing solely from a name match. Neighboring classifications can be useful discovery leads.

Can I search directly by CIP code?

Yes. Enter a code such as 11.0701 in CollegeVerse search, or open the Computer Science field page. The lists show historical reported award activity, so confirm current intakes with each institution.