NKU vs. Cleveland Institute of Music

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or Cleveland Institute of Music? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Cleveland Institute of Music 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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Northern Kentucky University vs. Cleveland Institute of Music comparison
Northern Kentucky University Cleveland Institute of Music College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University Cleveland Institute of Music
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Overview

NKU Cleveland Institute of Music
Location Highland Heights, KY Cleveland, OH
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 14,961 350
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #912
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu cim.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Cleveland Institute of Music
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $40,000
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $40,000
Room & Board $11,660 $14,550
Avg Net Price $8,151 $36,001
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $22,842
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

NKU Cleveland Institute of Music
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 461
Admitted 6,162 176
Acceptance Rate 96% 38.2%
Enrolled % 21% 28.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 916/1133
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026 Dec 1, 2025

Academics

NKU Cleveland Institute of Music
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

NKU Cleveland Institute of Music
Graduation Rate 37% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $45,200
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $257 $279

Diversity

NKU Cleveland Institute of Music
% Men 10% 22%
% Women 24% 23%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 9%
% Black 7% 0%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 3% 21%
% Unknown Race 1% 67%

Students

NKU Cleveland Institute of Music
% In-State 71% 7%
% Out-of-State 28% 78%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Cleveland Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 350 students)

NKU vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Cleveland Institute of Music?

  • Cleveland Institute of Music is 280.5% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($40,000.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 89.6% higher at Cleveland Institute of Music than Northern Kentucky University ($40,000.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Cleveland Institute of Music ($8,151 vs. $36,001)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 24.8% lower than costs at Cleveland Institute of Music ($11,660 vs. $14,550)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Music than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Music students is 98.8% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($22,842 vs. $11,492)

NKU vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Cleveland Institute of Music (38.2%)

NKU vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Cleveland Institute of Music? 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 Institute of Music and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Cleveland Institute of Music is higher than Northern Kentucky University (67% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland Institute of Music earn on average $5,500 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
  • NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
  • More Cleveland Institute of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 53%)

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