About

About Cleveland Institute of Art

art and design focussmall class sizesprivate art collegecareer technical emphasislow student faculty ratio

Cleveland Institute of Art is a community college in Cleveland, OH, known for its art and design focus, small class sizes, and private art college. With an acceptance rate of 70%, Cleveland Institute of Art is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 154 students each year. Cleveland Institute of Art is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1080–1280, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. Cleveland Institute of Art offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $29,070 per year; the sticker price of $62,505 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

Cleveland Institute of Art acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

70%
Overall Accept Rate
1180
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1080 – 1280 (test optional)

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Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to Cleveland Institute of Art

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Application Strategy
At CIA, your portfolio carries more weight than your GPA or test scores, so spend the bulk of your preparation time curating 12 to 20 pieces that show range, process, and a distinct point of view rather than polishing your transcript.
Application Strategy
CIA reviews portfolios with your intended major in mind, so research exactly what the Industrial Design, Illustration, or Game Design faculty are looking for and tailor your selected works to speak directly to that discipline rather than submitting a generic mix.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What Cleveland Institute of Art actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$63k/yr$23.4k
30k-48k~$63k/yr$25.0k
48k-75k~$63k/yr$26.7k
75k-110k~$63k/yr$30.5k
110k+~$63k/yr$37.4k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

68%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$33k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
9:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
546
Undergrad Enrollment
Cleveland Institute of Art Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch