Cleveland Institute of Art vs. SPU

Should I go to Cleveland Institute of Art or Seattle Pacific University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cleveland Institute of Art or SPU 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. Seattle Pacific University comparison
Cleveland Institute of Art Seattle Pacific University College 3 College 4
Cleveland Institute of Art Seattle Pacific University
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Overview

 Cleveland Institute of Art SPU
Location Cleveland, OH Seattle, WA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 566 2,659
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #246
Religious Affiliation - Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cia.edu spu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Cleveland Institute of Art SPU
Tuition (In State) $44,680 $37,965
Tuition (Out of State) $44,680 $37,965
Room & Board $12,520 $15,498
Avg Net Price $33,527 $26,155
Avg Grant Aid $29,439 $28,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 Cleveland Institute of Art SPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 963 2,806
Admitted 542 2,556
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 91.1%
Enrolled % 22.7% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/26 20/28
SAT Range 1060/1300 1050/1320
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 Jul 11, 2026

Academics

 Cleveland Institute of Art SPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (94%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Cleveland Institute of Art SPU
Graduation Rate 58% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,400 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $25,603
Median Loan Payment $299 $264

Diversity

 Cleveland Institute of Art SPU
% Men 1% 6%
% Women 1% 16%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 61%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 8%
% International 10% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 Cleveland Institute of Art SPU
% In-State 69% 71%
% Out-of-State 30% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Cleveland Institute of Art based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 566 students)

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. SPU Cost Comparison

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

  • Cleveland Institute of Art is 17.7% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($44,680.00 vs. $37,965.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.7% higher at Cleveland Institute of Art than Seattle Pacific University ($44,680.00 vs. $37,965.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than Cleveland Institute of Art ($26,155 vs. $33,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland Institute of Art are 23.8% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($12,520 vs. $15,498)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Art than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Art students is 4.9% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($29,439 vs. $28,070)

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 62 points higher than at Cleveland Institute of Art (1083)
  • Incoming SPU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Cleveland Institute of Art (24)
  • Accepted freshman SPU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Cleveland Institute of Art (3.48)
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Cleveland Institute of Art (56.3%)

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cleveland Institute of Art or SPU? 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 SPU and Cleveland Institute of Art.

  • The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Cleveland Institute of Art (74% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $11,000 more per year than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $39,400)
  • Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $3,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates. ($25,603 vs. $29,000)
  • SPU graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates. ($264 vs. $299)
  • More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland Institute of Art students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 62%)

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