WMU vs. Cleveland Institute of Art

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI with Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Michigan University is larger than Cleveland Institute of Art based on total student enrollment (16,744 students vs. 545 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting); Cleveland Institute of Art is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
• Western Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Michigan University 16:1; Cleveland Institute of Art 9:1.

WMU vs. Cleveland Institute of Art Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU or Cleveland Institute of Art? 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 Western Michigan University than Cleveland Institute of Art ($17,331 vs. $30,837).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 5.3% lower than at Cleveland Institute of Art ($12,174 vs. $12,850).
• Cleveland Institute of Art is 223.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WMU (about $34,148 more per year; $49,400.00 vs. $15,252.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 159.5% higher at Cleveland Institute of Art than at Western Michigan University (about $30,366 more per year; $49,400.00 vs. $19,034.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Art than at Western Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Art students is 206.5% larger than aid received by Western Michigan University students ($33,857 vs. $11,048).

WMU vs. Cleveland Institute of Art Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WMU or Cleveland Institute of Art? 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 Art and WMU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cleveland Institute of Art (1130) is 20 points higher than at WMU (1110).
• Incoming Cleveland Institute of Art students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 23 at WMU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Michigan University 990/1220; Cleveland Institute of Art 980/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Michigan University 20/27; Cleveland Institute of Art 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WMU - Test-free; Cleveland Institute of Art - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Cleveland Institute of Art (3.48).
• WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Cleveland Institute of Art (61.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at WMU vs. 19.8% at Cleveland Institute of Art.

WMU vs. Cleveland Institute of Art Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WMU and Cleveland Institute of Art? 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 Art's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Western Michigan University's (56%).
• Graduates from Western Michigan University earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,900 vs. $39,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Michigan University graduates have a $2,367 lower median loan debt than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates ($26,633 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, WMU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates ($275 vs. $299).
• More Cleveland Institute of Art graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 54%)

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.