California College of the Arts vs. Cleveland Institute of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than Cleveland Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 293 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Cleveland Institute of Music is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland Institute of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Cleveland Institute of Music 6:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts 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 Cleveland Institute of Music than California College of the Arts ($29,683 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland Institute of Music are 24.9% lower than at California College of the Arts ($16,600 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 13.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland Institute of Music (about $7,346 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $52,880.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.9% higher at California College of the Arts than at Cleveland Institute of Music (about $7,346 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $52,880.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Music than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 5.6% larger than aid received by Cleveland Institute of Music students ($32,953 vs. $31,191).

California College of the Arts vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Cleveland Institute of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland Institute of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Cleveland Institute of Music (47.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 14.9% at Cleveland Institute of Music.

California College of the Arts vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from Cleveland Institute of Music earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More Cleveland Institute of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 62%)

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.