Cleveland Institute of Music vs. Defiance College

Comparable Facts

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

Defiance College is larger than Cleveland Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (568 students vs. 293 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cleveland Institute of Music is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Defiance College is in Defiance, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cleveland Institute of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Defiance College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland Institute of Music 6:1; Defiance College 11:1.

Cleveland Institute of Music vs. Defiance College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland Institute of Music or Defiance College? 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 Defiance College than Cleveland Institute of Music ($26,298 vs. $29,683).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Defiance College are 24.1% lower than at Cleveland Institute of Music ($12,606 vs. $16,600).
• Cleveland Institute of Music is 80.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Defiance College (about $23,560 more per year; $52,880.00 vs. $29,320.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 80.4% higher at Cleveland Institute of Music than at Defiance College (about $23,560 more per year; $52,880.00 vs. $29,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Music than at Defiance College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Music students is 15.4% larger than aid received by Defiance College students ($31,191 vs. $27,024).

Cleveland Institute of Music vs. Defiance College Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsDefiance College 860/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsDefiance College 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland Institute of Music - Test-free; Defiance College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland Institute of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Defiance College has a higher acceptance rate (47.5%) than Cleveland Institute of Music (47.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.9% at Cleveland Institute of Music vs. 21.6% at Defiance College.

Cleveland Institute of Music vs. Defiance College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland Institute of Music and Defiance College? 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 Defiance College's (51%).
• Graduates from Cleveland Institute of Music earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Defiance College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $43,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Defiance College and Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Defiance College 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 Defiance College students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 58%)

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.