Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Art #1400 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,660 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cleveland Institute of Art in the 5.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Art #1404 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Cleveland Institute of Art's composite ranking reflects its ability to deliver strong outcomes for students in the visual and performing arts. Graduates earn about $20,660 less than similar students at comparable institutions, supported by a curriculum that emphasizes creative practice and professional development. These results place the institution among the top nonprofit four-year institutions for return on investment.
Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Art #1400 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private art and design college in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Institute of Art enrolls roughly 539 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 87.8% freshman retention rate and a 57.7% six-year graduation rate, reflecting strong student persistence through degree completion. Cleveland Institute of Art delivers particularly strong outcomes in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Art #1404 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,660 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cleveland Institute of Art in the 5.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's specialized focus on Visual & Performing Arts, where graduates move into creative and design-driven careers that command competitive compensation relative to peer institutions. Access and affordability represent the lower-ranked pillars in the composite. Cleveland Institute of Art sits in the 46.3 percentile for access and the 9.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a specialized art college with limited enrollment and a higher sticker price typical of private institutions, the school serves a more selective student population. 42.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.7% are first-generation college students. For students who enroll, the institution's strength in return on investment — driven by graduates' success in creative fields — offers meaningful long-term financial payoff despite the higher upfront cost.
Cleveland Institute of Art's published cost of attendance is $64,587. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $23,423, middle-income families pay around $26,654, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,436. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Art #1297 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry: net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary, and some families in each band pay more while others pay less than the figures shown. Cleveland Institute of Art's aid structure combines need-based and merit components. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs. For students pursuing visual and performing arts degrees, understanding both the sticker price and the actual net price after aid is essential to evaluating long-term affordability. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $60,640; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,829, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Cleveland Institute of Art is a strong fit for students pursuing careers in the visual and performing arts who want focused studio training at a private nonprofit institution in OH. The school's Visual & Performing Arts programs represent 81% of degree output, creating a concentrated creative community. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $41,829, placing Cleveland Institute of Art in the 1.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $20,660 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 5.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The school enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 42.2% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 26.7% identifying as first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $37,436, and the median federal debt at graduation is $27,000. Fit depends on alignment with Visual & Performing Arts disciplines and comfort with the private nonprofit tuition structure. Students seeking intensive studio training will find focused resources, while those wanting broader academic options may prefer institutions with more varied program mixes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Cleveland Institute Of Art hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Cleveland Institute of Art's published cost of attendance is $64,587. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $23,423, middle-income families pay around $26,654, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,436.
Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Art #1297 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry: net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary, and some families in each band pay more while others pay less than the figures shown.
Cleveland Institute of Art's aid structure combines need-based and merit components. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs.
For students pursuing visual and performing arts degrees, understanding both the sticker price and the actual net price after aid is essential to evaluating long-term affordability. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $60,640; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,829, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Cleveland Institute of Art earn median 4-year earnings of $41,829, placing the institution in the 1.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,660 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cleveland Institute of Art in the 5.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Art #1404 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Cleveland Institute of Art's concentrated focus on visual and performing arts.
Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 65 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $47,147, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Fine and Studio Arts program graduates 25 students with median 4-year earnings of $33,253, at 0.8x the CIP benchmark.
Graphic Communications and Film/Video and Photographic Arts round out the core program portfolio, each enrolling 16 and 11 graduates respectively. As a specialized arts institution, Cleveland Institute of Art channels students into creative and design-adjacent careers where earnings reflect both artistic skill development and the regional labor market for creative professionals in the Cleveland area.
Design and Applied Arts
65 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
25 graduates
Graphic Communications
16 graduates
Cleveland Institute of Art concentrates its program portfolio in visual and performing arts — a signature that reflects the institution's specialized mission as a fine-arts conservatory. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 65 graduates, followed by Fine and Studio Arts with 25 graduates, Graphic Communications, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, and Medical Design and Applied Arts and Computer and Information Sciences.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 125 students annually, earnings outcomes reflect the institution's focus on creative fields where four-year post-graduation income varies by specialization and market positioning. The earnings pattern across Cleveland Institute of Art's programs shows meaningful variation by discipline.
Design and Applied Arts leads with median 4-year earnings of $47,147 among 65 graduates, while Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $33,253. The range reflects how creative-field outcomes depend on specialization, market demand, and career trajectory — with some disciplines supporting earlier financial stability than others.
Design and Applied Arts graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,147, and Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $33,253, positioning these largest cohorts in the institution's earnings distribution. Cleveland Institute of Art's program mix anchors in Visual & Performing Arts, a portfolio designed to prepare students for careers in creative industries, design, and cultural institutions.
Many of these programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter creative markets, freelance networks, and cultural organizations immediately after completion. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-field specializations align with labor-market demand and career sustainability in arts-adjacent sectors.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
College For Creative Studies Higher acceptance rate (36.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 95 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MI | 93% | $44,860 | Compare |
Youngstown State University Higher acceptance rate (24 percentage points higher) and located 57 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 80% | $41,544 | Compare |
Kent State University At Kent Higher acceptance rate (30.4 percentage points higher) and located 29 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 87% | $45,388 | Compare |
Columbia College Chicago Higher acceptance rate (34.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 91% | $42,195 | Compare |
Stephens College Higher acceptance rate (35.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MO | 92% | $43,071 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36202 ranked) | MN | 48% | $40,873 | #36202 | Compare |
Mcpherson College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36203 ranked) | KS | 77% | $52,084 | #36203 | Compare |
La Roche University Similar quality tier (#36207 ranked) | PA | 76% | $52,341 | #36207 | Compare |
Montreat College Similar quality tier (#36208 ranked) | NC | 69% | $45,151 | #36208 | Compare |
Edp University Of Puerto Rico-Manati Similar quality tier (#36209 ranked) | PR | 68% | $22,844 | #36209 | Compare |
