Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Cleveland Institute of Art at a Glance
The Cleveland Institute of Art, previously Cleveland School of Art, is a private college focused on art and design and located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
Is Cleveland Institute of Art Worth It?
At a value score of 23/100, Cleveland Institute of Art is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $42,509 — 21% below average — while paying $29,208/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
With a 2.7-year payback period, most graduates recoup their total cost of attendance relatively quickly.
The 62% graduation rate means roughly 38% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
With median debt of $27,000 representing 64% of first-year earnings, loan repayment will be a significant burden for most graduates.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Cleveland Institute of Art has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Cleveland Institute of Art compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #29 of 62 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Turtle Mountain College | 100 | $3,428 | $32,079 |
| #2 | College of Biblical Studies-Houston | 100 | $672 | $39,260 |
| #3 | Emmaus Bible College | 66 | $13,186 | $42,631 |
| #4 | Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef D'spinka | 52 | $5,646 | $36,545 |
| #5 | Pillar College | 49 | $8,470 | $45,577 |
| #6 | University of Fort Lauderdale | 48 | $19,965 | $38,062 |
| #29 | Cleveland Institute of Art | 23 | $29,208 | $42,509 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Cleveland Institute of Art's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in OH.
Best Programs at Cleveland Institute of Art
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Cleveland Institute of Art. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $29,208/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in OH
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Cleveland, OH
- Student Body
- 539 students
- Admission Rate
- 61%
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $29,208
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $42,509
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000