Is my Degree a STEM-designated Program? Updated STEM Degree List

Many of our readers, and especially those foreign students on F-1 status who are in a technical field, are aware of the regulations which allow holders of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) degrees to obtain an additional 24-month OPT work permit extension, in addition to the 12-month post-completion OPT work permit.    Understanding the eligibility rules and especially understanding if one’s degree is a STEM degree is critical in planning for subsequent immigration steps, including whether to file for an H-1B petition.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the agency tasked with maintaining the STEM degree list and the list has been revised on a few occasions to add additional degrees.   Most recently, on July 23, 2024 ICE announced (see the Federal Register notice) the most recent expansion of the list STEM degree programs by adding one new field code:  Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (03.0204).

Current STEM-designated Programs

Please see the full list of STEM-designated programs, as published by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (which has jurisdiction over the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, SEVP).   We caution our readers to double-check the most current STEM-designated program list by contacting SEVP to ensure that their degree is STEM-designated before applying for or relying on STEM-designation and benefits.   Our office can offer phone consultations to assist in this kind of analysis.

STEM-Designation Has Great Benefits

Why is a STEM designation so important?  The STEM Designated Degree Program List is used to determine whether a degree obtained by certain F-1 nonimmigrant students qualifies as a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree, as required for the F-1 student to be eligible to apply for a STEM optional practical training (OPT) extension. The STEM OPT extension is a 24-month extension of OPT available to F-1 nonimmigrant students who have completed 12 months of OPT and received a degree in an approved STEM field of study as designated by the STEM list.

Is My Degree a STEM-Designated Degree Program?

The first step is to find the classification number of your degree.  The Classification of Educational Programs, a database provided by the Department of Education is helpful in looking up the CIP code for a specific degree.  Also, the degree and its CIP code are often listed on the top of page 3 (“Primary Major” line) of a student’s SEVIS Form I-20.

Once the CIP classification of the degree is determined, an F-1 or OPT holder should look at the list of STEM-designated programs (linked above) and see if the CIP code of the degree is listed as a STEM-designated program.    Finally, the F-1/OPT student should ensure that there are no STEM designation changes – perhaps by consulting SEVP, the university or an immigration attorney.

It should be noted, however, that in some situations the CIP code of the degree on the I-20 does not accurately reflect the degree which the F-1 student completed.    Sometimes, there are slight degree variations and changes which may not be reflected in the I-20 record.    If the student believes that there is a discrepancy between the actual degree obtained and the degree noted on the SEVIS I-20 form, the student should seek to correct any such discrepancy with the university’s designated school official (DSO) as soon as possible and definitely before filing a 24-month STEM OPT extension application.

How to Handle STEM OPT RFE/NOID Questioning a Mismatch Between I-20 CIP Code and the Degree/Transcript?

Our office has seen and has assisted in handling requests for evidence (RFE) or notices of intent to deny (NOID) for STEM OPT applications by students for whom the CIP code on I-20 does not match the major or program on the student’s diploma or transcript.     For example, a student who has a degree in business administration may have a CIP code of 52.1301, Management Science, on their I-20 and this may cause an RFE/NOID on the STEM OPT application.

It is ideal to anticipate this issue at the beginning of the STEM OPT submission so that the application can address the questions proactively.    When making the argument for STEM OPT eligibility in mismatch situations like this it is important to underscore the fact that CIP codes are intended to reflect a field of study, and not necessarily a degree or major at a university and CIP codes do not have to match the name of the degree and often do not.     This can be demonstrated in a number of ways, including by providing documentation from the university that explains how the CIP code is determined in relation to the degree courses, requirements and classification.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if our office can help you with a STEM OPT filing or an RFE/NOID.

Conclusion

The question whether a given degree is STEM-designated has a significant importance and our office handles many inquiries and consultations on this topic.     We are hopeful that this article and the current list (as of the date of this article) we are sharing will allow many F-1/OPT students to evaluate their options with respect to 24-month OPT extensions and/or possible H-1B cap filings.

Our office has developed as a leading practice in F-1/OPT/H-1B matters so please do not hesitate to contact us if we can help you in any way.    Please visit us again or subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to ensure that you obtain this and related immigration-related news and announcements.