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.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $64,587 |
| Tuition and Fees | $49,400 |
| Room and Board | $12,850 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,700 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$35,379 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $29,208 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,423 |
| $30–48k | $24,992 |
| $48–75k | $26,654 |
| $75–110k | $30,518 |
| $110k+ | $37,436 |
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 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 .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
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 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.
