Columbia College vs. Cleveland Institute of Music

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia College Chicago is larger than Cleveland Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 293 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Cleveland Institute of Music is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
• Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland Institute of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Cleveland Institute of Music 6:1.

Columbia College vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College 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 Columbia College Chicago than Cleveland Institute of Music ($29,473 vs. $29,683).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland Institute of Music are 19.5% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($16,600 vs. $20,629).
• Cleveland Institute of Music is 55.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $18,792 more per year; $52,880.00 vs. $34,088.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.1% higher at Cleveland Institute of Music than at Columbia College Chicago (about $18,792 more per year; $52,880.00 vs. $34,088.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as at Cleveland Institute of Music (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Music students is 36.9% larger than aid received by Columbia College Chicago students ($31,191 vs. $22,780).

Columbia College vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College 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 Columbia College.

• Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; Cleveland Institute of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027; Cleveland Institute of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Cleveland Institute of Music (47.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at Columbia College vs. 14.9% at Cleveland Institute of Music.

Columbia College vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College 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 Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
• Graduates from Cleveland Institute of Music earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College Chicago graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Cleveland Institute of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 46%)

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.