Cleveland Institute of Art
- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,509 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $29,208 F
- 70% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 61% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $10.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,060,897.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Cleveland Institute of Art Matters
Cleveland Institute of Art is a private special-focus institution in Cleveland, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Special-Focus Institution
- Carnegie Class
- Special Focus
- Enrollment
- 539
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Health Professions
Why students choose Cleveland Institute of Art
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 61% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 980–1280. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,208 a year after grants and scholarships — 70% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,509 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.31 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just 539 students, the Cleveland Institute of Art caters to individuals passionate about visual and performing arts and health professions. This intimate setting means students often find a tight-knit community where collaboration and creativity flourish. Given the 61% acceptance rate, it’s accessible to many aspiring artists and health professionals eager to hone their skills in a supportive environment.
After graduation, students can expect earnings around $42,509 within ten years. This figure suggests a steady path toward financial independence, especially for those in the creative fields, where opportunities can vary widely. While the affordability of education is a consideration, many students benefit from financial aid, with 42% receiving Pell Grants, which can help alleviate some of the burden.
Looking at the practical side, the net price after aid is about $29,208, with a median debt of $27,000. This financial snapshot highlights the importance of careful planning for prospective students. Those who thrive here are likely to be self-motivated and passionate about their craft, ready to engage in a rigorous curriculum that prepares them for a dynamic career in the arts or health sectors.
Can I Get In?
How selective Cleveland Institute of Art is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cleveland Institute of Art? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Institute of Art offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 61% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,193. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 61%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- SAT Average
- 1193
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 980–1280
- ACT Range
- 23–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 47%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,134
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.57
- First-Gen Students
- 27%
- Applicants
- 693
- Admitted
- 484
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cleveland Institute of Art? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cleveland Institute of Art is $49,400, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,208. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,423 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $49,400
- Out-of-State
- $49,400
- Avg Net Price
- $29,208
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 42%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 79%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $23,423
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $24,992
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $26,654
- Family Income $110K+
- $37,436
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Cleveland Institute of Art — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Cleveland Institute of Art Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cleveland Institute of Art report median earnings of $42,509, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,148
- 8 Years
- $34,159
- 10 Years
- $42,509
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.64x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (78)
- 56%
- 100% (78)
- 56%
- 100% (78)
- 56%
- 100% (78)
- 56%
How Cleveland Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Cleveland Institute of Art Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cleveland Institute of Art delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,208/year ($116,832 total). Graduates earn $42,509 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,177,729 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,060,897 (10.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $116,832
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,177,729
- Net Return
- $1,060,897
- ROI Multiple
- 10.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $29,208
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,579,526
- Investment Income
- $-3,680,381
Top Programs
The fields Cleveland Institute of Art awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 73% $34,499 early-career
- Health Professions 6%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Cleveland Institute of Art's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
- C-Art Director$105,180 · 5% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Animator$86,120 · 3% growthAdaptable 60
- CRegistered Nurse$86,070 · 6% growthResilient 82
- D+Fashion Designer$79,600 · 1% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Interior Designer$62,510 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Museum Curator$59,880 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Graphic Designer$58,910 · 3% growthVulnerable 48
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cleveland Institute of Art? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Institute of Art offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 61% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,193. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cleveland Institute of Art? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cleveland Institute of Art is $49,400, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,208. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,423 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Cleveland Institute of Art Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cleveland Institute of Art report median earnings of $42,509, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Cleveland Institute of Art? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cleveland Institute of Art. Its economic connectedness score is 1.31, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cleveland Institute of Art.
- University of Valley ForgePhoenixville, PA · Close peer52% grad $39,016 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertown, WI · Close peer65% grad $45,593 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Milwaukee Institute of Art & DesignMilwaukee, WI · Close peer65% grad $41,174 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Florida CollegeTemple Terrace, FL · Close peer53% grad $43,445 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinneapolis, MN · Close peer59% grad $40,873 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Columbus College of Art & DesignColumbus, OH · Close peer59% grad $40,664 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cleveland Institute of Art? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cleveland Institute of Art. Its economic connectedness score is 1.31, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note