Does my degree title need to match my CIP code exactly?

No. USCIS reads the CIP code on your I-20, not your diploma. A "Master of Science in Data Analytics" program registered as CIP 30.7101 qualifies even if your diploma says something more generic.

Can I get STEM OPT twice?

Yes, up to two times, but only if each is based on a degree at a higher level than the previous one (bachelor's then master's, for example). You cannot use two extensions from the same level.

Can I use a prior STEM degree if my current one is not STEM?

Yes, if the prior degree was earned at an accredited U.S. institution within the last 10 years and your employer and job duties relate to that STEM field. Your DSO will record the qualifying degree in SEVIS at recommendation.

What if I have two majors and only one is STEM?

Either Major 1 or Major 2 can qualify you. As long as one of the CIP codes is on the DHS list, you can apply.

Is an MBA STEM OPT eligible?

Only if your specific MBA concentration is registered under a STEM CIP such as 52.1301 (Management Science) or 30.7102 (Business Analytics). A standard MBA at CIP 52.0201 is not.

I-765GuideDocumentsMay 23, 2026

STEM OPT Eligible Degrees: Full CIP Code List and How to Check

Full DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, edge cases, and how to verify the CIP code on your Form I-20.

Written byMichal

Your degree qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension only if the 6-digit CIP code on your Form I-20 is on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. The diploma title is irrelevant. Use the decision tree and edge-case guide below to verify your eligibility.

Use the decision tree below to check eligibility, then read the edge cases that trip up students with ambiguous majors like business analytics, MBA tech tracks, and healthcare informatics.

The 24-month STEM OPT extension is one of the best benefits in the F-1 system, and it all comes down to one 6-digit number in SEVIS. USCIS reads the CIP code on your Form I-20. If your CIP is on the current DHS STEM list, you can apply. If not, you cannot, even if the program "feels" STEM. The list was last updated on July 23, 2024 (89 FR 59748), when DHS added Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (03.0204). As of May 12, 2026, no later 2025 or 2026 update has shown up on ICE's Federal Register notices page.

How DHS decides which degrees count as STEM

The rule that controls STEM OPT eligibility is 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(2). It defines STEM as a field in the Department of Education's Classification of Instructional Programs taxonomy under engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, or "a related field."

The STEM Designated Degree Program List works in two layers:

Four core 2-digit CIP series qualify automatically, plus any future codes NCES adds to them: 14 (Engineering), 26 (Biological and Biomedical Sciences), 27 (Mathematics and Statistics), and 40 (Physical Sciences).
Eighteen related 2-digit series only qualify at specific 6-digit codes. That includes 11 (Computer and Information Sciences), 30 (Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, where data science codes sit), and 45 (Social Sciences, where econometrics and geography codes live).

Universities can nominate new CIP codes by emailing SEVP@ice.dhs.gov before the annual August 1 deadline. Across the 2022, 2023, and 2024 updates, DHS has added 31 codes and removed none.

Find your CIP code on your Form I-20 in 60 seconds

Open page 1 of your most recent Form I-20 and look at the "Program of Study" block. You will see Major 1 and Major 2, each followed by a 6-digit CIP code in the XX.XXXX format (Computer Science is 11.0701). The CIP code on your Form I-20 and in SEVIS is what drives STEM OPT eligibility, but your degree records should line up with that classification too. USCIS has issued STEM OPT RFEs when the diploma or transcript title does not clearly match the CIP code.

A few rules worth knowing:

Either Major 1 or Major 2 can qualify you, so a double major with one STEM CIP and one non-STEM CIP works fine.
The CIP has to match exactly at the 6-digit level. A 4-digit family match (45.06 vs 45.0603) is not enough.
Online-only programs are not OPT-eligible in the first place, so STEM OPT does not apply.

The 2024 DHS STEM list, organized by field

!Decision tree showing the three checks for STEM OPT degree eligibility: whether the CIP code starts with 14, 26, 27, or 40; whether the exact 6-digit code is on the DHS STEM list; and whether a prior U.S. STEM degree can be used.

The canonical PDF on ice.gov is about 460 6-digit codes long, plus the open-ended core series. The clusters that matter most:

Engineering (14.xxxx): all sub-codes. Chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, biomedical, industrial, materials, computer, aerospace.
Computer and Information Sciences (11.xxxx, selected): Computer Science (11.0701), Information Science (11.0401), Cybersecurity (11.1003), Cloud Computing (11.0902), Human-Centered Tech Design (11.0105).
Mathematics and Statistics (27.xxxx): all sub-codes. Pure math, applied math, statistics, financial mathematics (27.0305), operations research.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (30.xxxx, selected): Data Science General (30.7001), Data Analytics General (30.7101), Business Analytics (30.7102), Financial Analytics (30.7104), Climate Science (30.3501), Mathematical Economics (30.4901).
Biological Sciences (26.xxxx) and Physical Sciences (40.xxxx): all sub-codes.
Other codes worth knowing: Architectural Sciences (04.0902), Landscape Architecture (04.0601), Medical Informatics (51.2706), Industrial/Organizational Psychology (42.2804), Geography (45.0701), GIS (45.0702), Econometrics (45.0603), Environmental Economics (03.0204).

Edge cases that catch most students

A handful of majors are tricky.

A standard MBA is CIP 52.0201, which is not STEM. Some schools register specific concentrations under a STEM CIP, usually 52.1301 (Management Science) or 30.7102 (Business Analytics). The Rochester Simon MBA, NYU Stern's MS in Business Analytics, Cornell Tech, and some Wharton tracks qualify. Check the exact CIP on your I-20, not the marketing page.

Business analytics vs. MIS is another one. Business Analytics under 30.7102 is STEM, but Management Information Systems under 52.1201 is not. If your transcript says "MIS" but your I-20 shows 11.0401 Information Science, you qualify.

Healthcare informatics is where one digit really matters. Medical Informatics 51.2706 is STEM. Health Informatics Other 51.2799 is not. That difference has triggered multiple USCIS RFEs.

Economics is similar. General Economics 45.0601 is not STEM. Econometrics 45.0603 and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics 03.0204 are. Many 45.0603 programs just say "Economics" on the diploma, which is where the confusion starts.

Environmental studies is friendlier. Both Environmental Studies (through 30.4401, added in 2022) and Environmental Science (03.0104) are STEM, and so are Geography (45.0701) and GIS (45.0702).

Psychology depends on the specialty. General Psychology 42.0101 is not STEM. Cognitive Psychology (42.2701), Behavioral Neuroscience (42.2706), and Industrial/Organizational Psychology (42.2804) are.

When the CIP and the diploma title do not match, USCIS goes with the CIP. Most rejected STEM OPT cases come from exactly that mismatch, which is something Immiva's filing checks catch before you submit.

What to do if your CIP code is not on the list

Work through these steps in order:

Confirm the CIP with your DSO. Ask for a SEVIS record check to verify what is actually entered, not just what is printed on your latest I-20.
Compare the CIP title to your transcript. If your coursework really matches a different CIP, ask your registrar about a re-mapping. Schools will correct genuine errors, but they will not re-code a program just so you can get STEM OPT.
Ask about a STEM nomination. Universities can submit CIP codes to SEVP@ice.dhs.gov by August 1. This is a long-term path, not a fix for your current filing.
Consider a prior STEM degree. If you earned an earlier U.S. STEM degree at an accredited institution within the last 10 years, you can use that as the basis for STEM OPT, as long as your employer and job duties relate to that field.
Move to a different status. Common fallbacks: filing H-1B in the next cap cycle, an H-4 EAD if your spouse holds H-1B with an approved I-140, or O-1 for extraordinary ability.

STEM OPT timing and fees in 2026

Filing fees for Form I-765 under category (c)(3)(C) are $470 online and $520 by paper under the current USCIS fee schedule. Form I-765 for STEM OPT can still be filed online under category (c)(3)(C). Premium processing for Form I-765 is $1,685. There is no separate biometrics fee for this category.

Plan around these rules:

You can file up to 90 days before your current post-completion OPT EAD expires.
You have to file Form I-765 within 60 days of the date your DSO enters the STEM OPT recommendation in SEVIS.
If you file your STEM OPT extension on time and your current OPT expires while it is pending, USCIS automatically extends your employment authorization by 180 days. STEM OPT applicants do not get the separate up-to-540-day automatic EAD extension under 8 CFR 274a.13(d), which applies only to the categories listed on USCIS's Automatic EAD Extension page.
STEM OPT processing times change often. Check the USCIS Processing Times tool and your USCIS online account or case status tool for the latest estimate and case updates.

If you would rather skip the back-and-forth with an immigration attorney, Immiva handles the I-765 and I-983 step by step for a flat $49.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my degree title need to match my CIP code exactly?: No. USCIS reads the CIP code on your I-20, not your diploma. A "Master of Science in Data Analytics" program registered as CIP 30.7101 qualifies even if your diploma says something more generic.
Can I get STEM OPT twice?: Yes, up to two times, but only if each is based on a degree at a higher level than the previous one (bachelor's then master's, for example). You cannot use two extensions from the same level.
Can I use a prior STEM degree if my current one is not STEM?: Yes, if the prior degree was earned at an accredited U.S. institution within the last 10 years and your employer and job duties relate to that STEM field. Your DSO will record the qualifying degree in SEVIS at recommendation.
What if I have two majors and only one is STEM?: Either Major 1 or Major 2 can qualify you. As long as one of the CIP codes is on the DHS list, you can apply.
Is an MBA STEM OPT eligible?: Only if your specific MBA concentration is registered under a STEM CIP such as 52.1301 (Management Science) or 30.7102 (Business Analytics). A standard MBA at CIP 52.0201 is not.

Conclusion

Every STEM OPT eligible degree has one thing in common: a 6-digit CIP code DHS has designated as STEM. Pull your most recent I-20, check the code against the July 23, 2024 list, and confirm it with your DSO before you file. If your code is on the list, move on to the Form I-983 training plan and the I-765. If not, you still have options, but they take planning.

Official Sources

This guide is based on current USCIS, DHS, and ICE policy and federal regulations. All information was verified against these official sources as of May 2026.

USCIS and DHS Resources

NCES (CIP Code Source)

Federal Regulations

Federal Register STEM List Updates

Immigration law changes often. Immiva monitors USCIS and DHS policy updates and revises this guide when regulations or the STEM list change.