AQ vs. Cleveland Institute of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than Cleveland Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 293 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Cleveland Institute of Music is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
• Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland Institute of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Cleveland Institute of Music 6:1.

AQ vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Cleveland Institute of Music? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than Cleveland Institute of Music ($18,018 vs. $29,683).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 29.6% lower than at Cleveland Institute of Music ($11,680 vs. $16,600).
• Cleveland Institute of Music is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than AQ (about $12,662 more per year; $52,880.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.5% higher at Cleveland Institute of Music than at Aquinas College (about $12,662 more per year; $52,880.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College as at Cleveland Institute of Music (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Cleveland Institute of Music students ($33,535 vs. $31,191).

AQ vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or Cleveland Institute of Music? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cleveland Institute of Music and AQ.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; Cleveland Institute of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland Institute of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Cleveland Institute of Music (47.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 14.9% at Cleveland Institute of Music.

AQ vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and Cleveland Institute of Music? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Cleveland Institute of Music's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Cleveland Institute of Music earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Cleveland Institute of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.