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PrivateUrban

Cleveland Institute of Art

CIA

Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1710

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivateClose Faculty Access

Close-knit campus

Cleveland Institute of Art is a private urban institution in Cleveland, Ohio. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1156.

A small campus of 560 undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

68% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $42,509 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $41,480.

Established
1882
Type
Private

Plan Your Visit

56%Acceptance
1156SAT Avg
560Students
9:1Student:Faculty
68%Grad Rate
$42,509Earnings 10yr
$41,480Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Cleveland Institute of Art Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate56.3%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1156

Reading & WritingMid: 610
550670
MathMid: 545
510630

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 23
2226

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

56.3%

Trend

SAT Avg

1156

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$47,880
Room & Board$12,520
Books & Supplies$2,200
Total Cost of Attendance$62,966
Average Net Price$41,480
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$23,681
$30–48K$24,660
$48–75K$24,259
$75–110K$25,440
$110K+$61,310

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

19.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$26,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

3

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

1

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (6)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

86%

Mixed
  • 86% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
560
Gender Split
73% / 27%
Women / Men
First Generation
27%
Pell Grant Recipients
38%

Race & Ethnicity

White 65%
Black 13%
Hispanic 11%
Asian 3%
Two+ 7%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate67.5%
Freshman Retention86.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$33,148
10 Years$42,509

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History The college was founded in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women, at first attended by one teacher and one pupil in the sitting room of its founder, Sarah Kimball.
  • The school moved several times, first to the attic of the Old Cleveland City Hall, then to the Old Kelly homestead on Wilson Avenue (now East 55th Street).
  • Having become a co-educational school, it was renamed the Cleveland School of Art in 1892.
  • In the fall of 1905, the first classes were held in a newly constructed building at the corner of Magnolia Drive and Juniper Road in Cleveland's University Circle.
  • Beginning in 1917, the school offered classes for children and adults on weekends and in the summer.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CLE Cleveland15 mi
PIT Pittsburgh100 mi
DTW Detroit103 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA545 mi · ~15h 45m drive
New York, NY399 mi · ~11h 32m drive
Hartford, CT461 mi · ~13h 19m drive
Providence, RI526 mi · ~15h 12m drive
Albany, NY410 mi · ~11h 51m drive
Syracuse, NY298 mi · ~8h 37m drive
Rochester, NY234 mi · ~6h 46m drive
Buffalo, NY169 mi · ~4h 53m drive
Philadelphia, PA354 mi · ~10h 14m drive
Pittsburgh, PA112 mi · ~3h 14m drive
Harrisburg, PA261 mi · ~7h 32m drive
Newark, NJ390 mi · ~11h 16m drive
Washington, DC301 mi · ~8h 42m drive
Baltimore, MD304 mi · ~8h 47m drive
Atlanta, GA557 mi · ~16h 5m drive
Charlotte, NC436 mi · ~12h 36m drive
Raleigh, NC427 mi · ~12h 20m drive
Miami, FL1091 mi · ~31h 31m drive
Orlando, FL896 mi · ~25h 53m drive
Tampa, FL938 mi · ~27h 6m drive
Nashville, TN463 mi · ~13h 23m drive
New Orleans, LA928 mi · ~26h 49m drive
Richmond, VA353 mi · ~10h 12m drive
Chicago, IL312 mi · ~9h 1m drive
Detroit, MI93 mi · ~2h 41m drive
Minneapolis, MN633 mi · ~18h 17m drive
St. Louis, MO496 mi · ~14h 20m drive
Kansas City, MO703 mi · ~20h 19m drive
Indianapolis, IN267 mi · ~7h 43m drive
Columbus, OH130 mi · ~3h 45m drive
Cleveland, OH5 mi · ~9 min drive
Milwaukee, WI339 mi · ~9h 48m drive
Dallas, TX1029 mi · ~29h 44m drive
Houston, TX1118 mi · ~32h 18m drive
Austin, TX1188 mi · ~34h 19m drive
San Antonio, TX1261 mi · ~36h 26m drive
Los Angeles, CA2050 mi · ~59h 13m drive
San Francisco, CA2167 mi · ~62h 36m drive
San Diego, CA2035 mi · ~58h 47m drive
Seattle, WA2025 mi · ~58h 30m drive
Portland, OR2054 mi · ~59h 20m drive
Denver, CO1229 mi · ~35h 30m drive
Phoenix, AZ1751 mi · ~50h 35m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1569 mi · ~45h 20m drive
Honolulu, HI4561 mi · ~131h 46m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Cleveland (CLE)15 miles
Rental car
23 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
30 min$18-30
Pittsburgh (PIT)100 miles
Rental car
150 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
200 min$120-200

Deadline Calendar

Cleveland Institute of Art Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Cleveland Institute of Art — v2 Preview — TourStack