Cleveland Institute of Music
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
Cleveland Institute of Music is a private nonprofit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio with approximately 159 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 47% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $28,226 per year. The graduation rate is 72%, and the typical graduate earns $45,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) is a private music conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio. The school was founded in 1920 by a group of supporters led by Martha Bell Sanders and Mary Hutchens Smith, with Ernest Bloch serving as its first director. CIM enrolls 325 students in the conservatory and approximately 1,500 students in the preparatory and continuing education programs. There are typically about 100 openings per year for which 1,000-1,200 prospective students apply.
Worth considering if you're serious about a performance career and want an intimate conservatory environment — the 98% freshman retention rate signals that students who get in tend to love it there. The financial picture is manageable, with median debt of just $18,500 at graduation, though the $45,200 median earnings at 10 years out is modest and reflects the reality of music careers rather than a flaw in the school. The 69% graduation rate is worth asking about during your visit, since nearly 1 in 3 students doesn't finish.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (159 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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