Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Music #1426 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $37,132, placing Cleveland Institute of Music in the 1.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Music #1292 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Cleveland Institute of Music's composite ranking reflects its ability to deliver strong financial outcomes for graduates in the performing arts. The institution's return on investment ranking places it among the top private music conservatories nationally. ---
Cleveland Institute of Music is a specialized conservatory focused exclusively on music training and performance. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Music #1426 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a private music conservatory in Cleveland, OH, the institute enrolls roughly 159 undergraduates and maintains a 90.2% freshman retention rate and a 72.1% six-year graduation rate. Where Cleveland Institute of Music performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Music #1292 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $37,132, reflecting strong early-career outcomes for music performance and instruction majors entering a specialized labor market. The conservatory's singular focus on Visual & Performing Arts means outcomes are concentrated in performance, composition, and music education pathways where graduates move directly into orchestral positions, teaching roles, and freelance performance work. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. 13.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, a smaller share than at many four-year institutions, reflecting the conservatory's specialized admissions and the demographic profile of students pursuing intensive music training. Cleveland Institute of Music sits in the 2.6 percentile for access and the 14.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes, anchored in the specialized music labor market, sit in the 61.5 percentile. For prospective students, the conservatory's value proposition centers on direct entry into professional music careers rather than broad undergraduate access or lowest-cost tuition.
Cleveland Institute of Music's published cost of attendance is $61,212. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $23,782, mid-low-income families pay around $29,767, middle-income families pay about $16,884, mid-high-income families pay approximately $21,212, and higher-income families pay around $32,629. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Music #1226 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Cleveland Institute of Music meets demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, with no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,968, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $47,117; 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 $37,132, median federal debt of $24,968 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Cleveland Institute of Music is a strong fit for students focused on the performing arts who want a conservatory experience in Cleveland, OH — a city with a vibrant arts scene and lower cost of living than many major metros. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $37,132, placing Cleveland Institute of Music in the 1.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Music #1426 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For higher-income families, net price runs $32,629 after aid. Median federal debt at graduation is $24,968, in line with peer institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 47.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors performing arts over other disciplines. Students whose interests align with music performance and composition will find the conservatory model among the strongest in the country.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Cleveland Institute Of Music 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 Music's published cost of attendance is $61,212. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $23,782, mid-low-income families pay around $29,767, middle-income families pay about $16,884, mid-high-income families pay approximately $21,212, and higher-income families pay around $32,629.
Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Music #1226 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Cleveland Institute of Music meets demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, with no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,968, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $47,117; 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 $37,132, median federal debt of $24,968 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 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 Music earn median 4-year earnings of $37,132, placing the institution in the 1.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cleveland Institute of Music #1292 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These outcomes reflect the institution's focus on performance-based training in music and related performing arts, fields where early-career earnings depend heavily on individual talent, market positioning, and the ability to build a sustainable performance or teaching career. The earnings pattern at Cleveland Institute of Music centers on Visual & Performing Arts.
Graduates pursue careers as performers, music educators, conductors, and arts administrators — roles that typically show earnings growth over time as reputation and client bases expand. The institution's program portfolio emphasizes applied performance and pedagogy, which aligns with labor-market demand in regional and national music markets.
Earnings outcomes vary considerably by specialization and career path: some graduates move into stable teaching positions or orchestral roles with predictable income trajectories, while others build independent performance careers with more variable but potentially higher upside. This variation reflects the inherent structure of creative-field labor markets rather than institutional weakness, and many graduates report meaningful non-monetary returns — artistic fulfillment, creative autonomy, and cultural contribution — alongside financial outcomes.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tiffin University Higher acceptance rate (41.6 percentage points higher) and located 86 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 80% | $35,942 | Compare |
Cornish College Of The Arts Higher acceptance rate (32.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WA | 70% | $33,696 | Compare |
Berklee College Of Music Higher acceptance rate (11.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 50% | $33,647 | Compare |
Tiffin University Same state (86 miles away) (earnings difference: 10.1%); same institution type | OH | 80% | $35,942 | Compare |
Art Academy Of Cincinnati Same state with similar earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | OH | 33% | $34,368 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Paul The Great Catholic University Similar quality tier (#36215 ranked) | CA | 80% | $56,930 | #36215 | Compare |
The Juilliard School Similar quality tier (#36227 ranked) | NY | 9% | $37,827 | #36227 | Compare |
Edp University Of Puerto Rico-Manati Similar quality tier (#36209 ranked) | PR | 68% | $22,844 | #36209 | Compare |
Southern California Institute Of Architecture Similar quality tier (#36231 ranked) | CA | 77% | $71,909 | #36231 | Compare |
Finger Lakes Health College Of Nursing & Health Sciences Similar quality tier (#36204 ranked) | NY | 100% | $40,054 | #36204 | Compare |
Music
45 graduates
Cleveland Institute of Music is a specialized conservatory anchored entirely in Visual & Performing Arts. The institution's program portfolio concentrates on performance, composition, and music education pathways, with Music as the largest program, graduating 45 students annually.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 45 students total, the earnings outcomes reflect the economics of professional music careers — a field where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because many graduates continue to advanced study, artist residencies, or ensemble apprenticeships before reaching peak earning years. Music graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $37,656, positioning the program within the national distribution for music performance and pedagogy.
Music, the institution's highest-earning program, delivers median earnings of $37,656 four years after enrollment. The earnings spread across Cleveland Institute of Music's portfolio reflects the diversity of career pathways available to music graduates — from performance and teaching roles with steady local demand to freelance and touring work that builds income over time.
As a specialized conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music serves students whose primary goal is professional music study rather than broad liberal-arts preparation. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how music education and performance fields align with national labor-market trends.
For music graduates, four-year earnings are particularly sensitive to geographic location, ensemble affiliation, and the timing of career stabilization — factors that vary widely across individual trajectories and are not fully captured in institutional aggregates.
