Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 62/100

Cleveland Institute of Music

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Cleveland, Ohio

About Cleveland Institute of Music

Thinking about Cleveland Institute of Music, a college in Ohio where more students graduate in Visual & Performing Arts than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Cleveland Institute of Music is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Cleveland, Ohio. It enrolls 159 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
47.3%
Graduation
—
Net Price
$28,226
Median Earnings (10yr)
$32,641
Enrollment
159
Student : Faculty
6:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 87
Value 2
Affordability 13
Selectivity 85

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Cleveland Institute of Music admits 47.3% of applicants, which makes it genuinely competitive, so your application needs to be strong.

Acceptance Rate
47.3%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Cleveland Institute of Music is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 1.6 pts since 2019
36.6%201934.2%202032.9%202136.2%202238.2%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $28,226 a year on average, it sits in line with what private nonprofit colleges charge nationally. Plan for the gap between that and what you can pay without borrowing. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$28,226
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
32%
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
$52,880
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,600
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,000
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,558
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,558
Total Cost of Attendance
$61,212

Application fee: $125 (one-time, due at submission)


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
    $23,782
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $29,767
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $16,884
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $21,212
  • Over $110,000
    $32,629

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.

$14,000
25% percentile
$24,968
Median percentile
$34,500
75% 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 ↑ $2,032
No Pell $13,000 ↓ $11,968
Female students $24,968 —
Male students $13,000 ↓ $11,968
Pell recipients: 34.6% (8,646 students)No Pell: 16.7% (4,163 students)Female students: 32.0% (7,996 students)Male students: 16.7% (4,163 students)Overall Median$24,968
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,125, less than completers ($24,968), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

94% come back after first year. Students who arrive tend to stay, which is usually a good sign. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
94%
Returning for their second year
What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $32,641 a year, below the national median. Weigh that against the cost above before taking on debt here. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,641
Earning > $25K
53%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$18,000$22,000$26,000$30,000$35,0006 yrs10 yrs
What this means: Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$1.2 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 159 students, an intimate, close-knit community.

Total Enrolled
159
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
—

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 42.8% 68
International 23.9% 38
Asian 17.0% 27
Hispanic 6.3% 10
Other 5.7% 9
Black 3.1% 5
White: 42.8% (68 students)International: 23.9% (38 students)Asian: 17.0% (27 students)Hispanic: 6.3% (10 students)Other: 5.7% (9 students)Black: 3.1% (5 students)Total159

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Cleveland Institute of Music. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Cleveland, Ohio
Housing
Strongly residential 126 beds for 159 students
Adult Learners
1% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Cleveland Institute of Music offers a focused set of programs: 4 distinct programs across 1 major. 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.

4 Programs
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

Faculty & Resources

There are 6 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.

Student : Faculty
6:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$98M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,211
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

42 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank 42 100% $65,211

Pros & Cons of Cleveland Institute of Music

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Cleveland Institute of Music is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Strong first-year retention
CONS
  • Above-average net price
  • Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for: Based on the data, Cleveland Institute of Music is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cleveland Institute of Music

The questions families ask most about Cleveland Institute of Music, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Cleveland Institute of Music hard to get into?
Cleveland Institute of Music is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 47.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Cleveland Institute of Music?
47.3% of applicants are admitted. Around half get in, so a solid application has a real chance. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
How much does Cleveland Institute of Music cost?
Budget around $28,226 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cleveland Institute of Music worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $32,641 a year against a net price of $28,226, about 1.2 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cleveland Institute of Music known for?
Mostly Music, Music, Music. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Cleveland Institute of Music graduates earn?
About $32,641 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cleveland Institute of Music accredited?
Yes. Cleveland Institute of Music is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Cleveland Institute of Music?
159 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Cleveland Institute of Music a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Cleveland Institute of Music located?
Cleveland Institute of Music is located in Cleveland, Ohio.
What programs does Cleveland Institute of Music offer?
4 different programs, most commonly Music, Music, Music. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cleveland Institute of Music?
6 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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