Cleveland Institute of Art is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Cleveland, Ohio. It enrolls 539 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes67
Value5
Affordability45
Selectivity61
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 61.4%, Cleveland Institute of Art is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
61.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
980 – 1280
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Cleveland Institute of Art is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
13.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Cleveland Institute of Art isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,208 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,208
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
79%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$49,400
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,850
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,800
Books & Supplies
$1,700
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,350
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,450
Total Cost of Attendance
$64,587
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$23,423
$30,001 – $48,000
$24,992
$48,001 – $75,000
$26,654
$75,001 – $110,000
$30,518
Over $110,000
$37,436
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$30,25075%percentile
$41,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $27,000
—
No Pell $22,250
↓ $4,750
Dependent students $26,500
↓ $500
Independent students $32,500
↑ $5,500
Female students $26,349
↓ $651
Male students $27,000
—
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at Cleveland Institute of Art graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cleveland Institute of Art earn a median of $42,509 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,509
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,500, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
23.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Cleveland Institute of Art is home to 539 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
539
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.3%336
Black 15.6%84
Hispanic 11.1%60
Other 5.9%32
Asian 3.7%20
International 0.7%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Cleveland Institute of Art. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityCleveland, Ohio
Housing
Mostly residential319 beds on campus
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Cleveland Institute of Art offers
a focused set of programs:
5 distinct programs across
3 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cleveland Institute of Art is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$92M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,358
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
51 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
10
20%
$81,549
Associate Professors
15
29%
$73,609
Assistant Professors
16
31%
$58,666
Lecturers
10
20%
$47,500
Pros & Cons of Cleveland Institute of Art
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cleveland Institute of Art tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Strong first-year retention
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Cleveland Institute of Art is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cleveland Institute of Art
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cleveland Institute of Art.
Is Cleveland Institute of Art hard to get into?
Admissions at Cleveland Institute of Art are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 61.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Cleveland Institute of Art?
Cleveland Institute of Art has an acceptance rate of 61.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Cleveland Institute of Art?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Cleveland Institute of Art scored between 980 and 1280 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Cleveland Institute of Art?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Cleveland Institute of Art scored between 23 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Cleveland Institute of Art cost?
The average net price after aid at Cleveland Institute of Art is $29,208 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cleveland Institute of Art worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,509 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,208 per year. That's roughly 1.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cleveland Institute of Art known for?
Cleveland Institute of Art is best known for its programs in Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Communications. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Cleveland Institute of Art graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Cleveland Institute of Art are $42,509, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Cleveland Institute of Art accredited?
Yes. Cleveland Institute of Art is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Cleveland Institute of Art?
Cleveland Institute of Art enrolls 539 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Cleveland Institute of Art?
Cleveland Institute of Art graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Cleveland Institute of Art a public or private college?
Cleveland Institute of Art is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Cleveland Institute of Art located?
Cleveland Institute of Art is located in Cleveland, Ohio.
What programs does Cleveland Institute of Art offer?
Cleveland Institute of Art offers 5 distinct programs. The most popular include Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Communications.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cleveland Institute of Art?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cleveland Institute of Art is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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