Cleveland Institute of Music vs. CCAD

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, OH with Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbus College of Art & Design is larger than Cleveland Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (916 students vs. 293 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cleveland Institute of Music is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Columbus College of Art & Design is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
• Cleveland Institute of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbus College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland Institute of Music 6:1; Columbus College of Art & Design 10:1.

Cleveland Institute of Music vs. CCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland Institute of Music or CCAD? 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 CCAD ($29,683 vs. $31,801).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art & Design are 31% lower than at Cleveland Institute of Music ($11,450 vs. $16,600).
• Cleveland Institute of Music is 29.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCAD (about $12,055 more per year; $52,880.00 vs. $40,825.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.5% higher at Cleveland Institute of Music than at Columbus College of Art & Design (about $12,055 more per year; $52,880.00 vs. $40,825.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Music as at Columbus College of Art & Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Music students is 35.6% larger than aid received by Columbus College of Art & Design students ($31,191 vs. $23,000).

Cleveland Institute of Music vs. CCAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cleveland Institute of Music or CCAD? 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 CCAD and Cleveland Institute of Music.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland Institute of Music - Test-free; CCAD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland Institute of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• CCAD has a higher acceptance rate (67.7%) than Cleveland Institute of Music (47.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.9% at Cleveland Institute of Music vs. 32.1% at CCAD.

Cleveland Institute of Music vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland Institute of Music and CCAD? 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 Columbus College of Art & Design's (64%).
• Graduates from Cleveland Institute of Music earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than CCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbus College of Art & Design and Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Columbus College of Art & Design and Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Cleveland Institute of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCAD students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 63%)

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.