CalArts vs. Cleveland Institute of Music

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Cleveland Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 293 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Cleveland Institute of Music is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
• California Institute 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 Institute of the Arts 7:1; Cleveland Institute of Music 6:1.

CalArts vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts 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 CalArts ($29,683 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 14.9% lower than at Cleveland Institute of Music ($14,134 vs. $16,600).
• California Institute of the Arts is 11.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland Institute of Music (about $6,116 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $52,880.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.6% higher at CalArts than at Cleveland Institute of Music (about $6,116 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $52,880.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Music than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Music students is 45.6% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($31,191 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts 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 CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Cleveland Institute of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Cleveland Institute of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Cleveland Institute of Music has a higher acceptance rate (47.3%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 14.9% at Cleveland Institute of Music.

CalArts vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts 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 Institute of the Arts's (65%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $45,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More Cleveland Institute of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 64%)

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.