B
Good
Score: 62/100
Overall (traditional)
F
Outcome Rating
34/100 · earnings-weighted

Cleveland Institute of Music

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Cleveland Institute of Music campus, Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Institute of Music campus, Cleveland, OH. Photo: Theseus.u, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
ℹ️
Rating Context: This institution has fewer than 500 students. Smaller schools may show more rating variability due to limited data points.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (A) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 69%
Outcomes
A
84/100
Affordability
F
19/100
Resources
B+
75/100
Experience
B+
81/100
Prestige
C
48/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

350
Total Enrollment
69%
Graduation Rate
98%
Retention Rate
6.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
38%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Cleveland Institute of Music, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$32,641
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$20,170
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$24,968
Median debt at graduation
72.1%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
13.7%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 76% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 3rd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (OH wage index 0.88). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Cleveland Institute of Music

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Music—$37,656-12%#220 of 268#184$25,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Cleveland Institute of Music Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $193,649
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,581/mo — vs ~$1,278/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 44108 (13.9% cap, Cleveland)

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🏆 Where Cleveland Institute of Music Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#25
Music Performance, General
of 79 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $40,000 $40,000
Room $11,500
Board $7,580
Total Cost (On-Campus) $61,212 $61,212

Financial Aid

100%
Receive Any Aid
19%
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Music Performance, General 129 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Cleveland Institute of Music's top programs commonly pursue.

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 122,800 jobs
Music directors and composers
$64k/yr 47,300 jobs
Musicians and singers
169,800 jobs

Student Demographics

350
Total Students
50%
Women
99%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 43%
Hispanic 4%
Black 3%
Asian 15%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 29%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 75%
Hybrid (Some Online) 25%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 99%
25-64 (Adult) 1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Cleveland Institute of Music?
Cleveland Institute of Music has an acceptance rate of 38%. This makes it a moderately selective institution with competitive admission standards.
How much does it cost to attend Cleveland Institute of Music?
Tuition at Cleveland Institute of Music is $40,000 for in-state students and $40,000 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Cleveland Institute of Music?
The graduation rate at Cleveland Institute of Music is 69%. This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Cleveland Institute of Music a good school?
Cleveland Institute of Music has a Repit College Score of 62/100 (Grade: B). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Cleveland Institute of Music?
Cleveland Institute of Music has a total enrollment of 350 students. Most students (99%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Cleveland Institute of Music — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Cleveland Institute of Music

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology