Art Academy of Cincinnati vs Cleveland Institute of Music

Side-by-side comparison across admissions, costs, outcomes, campus life, and more. Data from US Department of Education.

💰
Best Value
Cleveland Institute of Music
Lower Net Price
💼
High Earners
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Higher 10yr Salary
🏆
Most Selective
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Harder to get in
🎓
Graduation
Cleveland Institute of Music
Higher success
Admissions Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
33.1%
38.2%
Cost & Financial Aid
Avg Net Price
$38,041
$32,623
Tuition (In-State)
$40,250
$42,500
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$40,250
$42,500
Pell Grant Rate % students receiving Pell Grants
48.0%
14.6%
Federal Loan Rate
72.0%
36.7%
Career Outcomes
Median Salary (10yr)
$34,368
$32,641
Graduation Rate
47.6%
75.5%
Retention Rate Freshmen who return for 2nd year
62.4%
97.6%
Campus Life
Total Enrollment
254
193
Undergrad Enrollment
273
200
Type
Private
Private
Setting
Urban
Urban

📋 Report Cards

Art Academy of Cincinnati

Academics
C
Value
C
Admissions
B+
Diversity
C

Cleveland Institute of Music

Academics
B+
Value
C
Admissions
B-
Diversity
B

⚖️ Expert Analysis

Art Academy of Cincinnati and Cleveland Institute of Music are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Art Academy of Cincinnati is more selective with a 33.1% acceptance rate compared to Cleveland Institute of Music's 38.2%.

Cost: Cleveland Institute of Music offers a lower average net price at $32,623, which is $5,418 less than Art Academy of Cincinnati ($38,041). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Art Academy of Cincinnati earn a median salary of $34,368 ten years after enrollment, which is $1,727 more than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates ($32,641).

Graduation: Cleveland Institute of Music leads with a 75.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 62.4% vs 97.6%.

Campus Size: Art Academy of Cincinnati is the larger campus with 254 total students, while Cleveland Institute of Music has 193.

Bottom Line: Cleveland Institute of Music wins on affordability while Art Academy of Cincinnati leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.

Want to explore more options?