Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Cleveland State

Should I go to Cleveland Institute of Art or Cleveland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cleveland Institute of Art or Cleveland State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Cleveland State University comparison
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Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State University
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Overview

 Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State
Location Cleveland, OH Cleveland, OH
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 584 14,385
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cia.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $43,380 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $43,380 $17,359
Room & Board $12,230 $14,197
Avg Net Price $33,395 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $28,356 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 91%

Admission

 Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 693 11,570
Admitted 484 9,872
Acceptance Rate 69.8% 85.3%
Enrolled % 31.8% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 18/25
SAT Range 1080/1280 880/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (94%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 58% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,400 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $299 $222

Diversity

 Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State
% Men 28% 46%
% Women 72% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 64%
% Black 8% 17%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 10% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State
% In-State 68% 85%
% Out-of-State 32% 7%

Campus

 Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Cleveland Institute of Art based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 584 students)

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland Institute of Art or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland Institute of Art is 257.2% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($43,380.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 149.9% higher at Cleveland Institute of Art than Cleveland State University ($43,380.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Cleveland Institute of Art ($15,719 vs. $33,395)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland Institute of Art are 16.1% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($12,230 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Art than Cleveland State University (99% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Art students is 200.5% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($28,356 vs. $9,436)

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cleveland Institute of Art or Cleveland State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cleveland State or Cleveland Institute of Art .

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland Institute of Art (1083) is 55 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming Cleveland Institute of Art students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cleveland Institute of Art students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Cleveland Institute of Art (69.8%)

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cleveland Institute of Art or Cleveland State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cleveland State and Cleveland Institute of Art.

  • The graduation rate at Cleveland Institute of Art is higher than Cleveland State University (58% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $39,400)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates. ($21,500 vs. $29,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $77 less per month on federal student loans than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates. ($222 vs. $299)
  • More Cleveland Institute of Art graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/