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Cleveland Institute of Music

Cleveland Institute of Music

Cleveland, OH · City · 159 students
WebsiteScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$28,226
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
70%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
63% typical
$32,641
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$39,254 typical
47%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
64% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) is a premier, highly selective conservatory renowned for its world-class training in classical performance, particularly across strings, orchestral instruments, and piano. Situated in Cleveland's cultural hub of University Circle, CIM is distinguished by its deep ties to The Cleveland Orchestra, with dozens of active orchestra members serving directly on the faculty. Students experience an intensely focused yet collaborative artistic environment that pairs rigorous studio mentorship with extensive academic and campus resources shared through an enduring partnership with neighboring Case Western Reserve University.


Wikipedia: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.

Location
Cleveland, OH, 44106-1776 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
CLE · Cleveland
14 mi away
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$52,880
Housing & food (on campus)$16,600
Books & supplies$1,600
Cost of attendance$61,212
Average net price$28,226
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$52,880
Housing & food (on campus)$16,600
Books & supplies$1,600
Cost of attendance$61,212
Average net price$28,226
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$23,782
$30–48k
$29,767
$48–75k
$16,884
$75–110k
$21,212
$110k+
$32,629
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
70%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
54%
Back for yr 2
90%
Transferred
6%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
76% graduated · 5% transferred · 19% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$20,170
10 yrs after entry$32,641
Debt
Median at graduation$24,968
Monthly payment$265
Middle 50% owe$14k–$34.5k
Green marks a figure above the typical Special focus — arts, music & design: 63% graduate within 6 yrs.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
47%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts
From Cleveland Institute of Music (cim.edu) · 2026–27 application · checked Sep 28, 2026
  • What does a successful career in classical music look like to you? What are your career goals and how will CIM help you attain them?
  • What would a successful career in music look like to you?

Quoted from Cleveland Institute of Music's own page. The application itself is the final word.

Student Body
Gender
Men 50%Women 50%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
6 : 1
Pell grant
14%
Family income
$93,006
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
0%
Race & ethnicity
White
43%
Hispanic
6%
Black
3%
Asian
17%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
24%
AI/AN
1%
NH/PI
1%
Unknown
1%
Varsity sports

No data. This school isn't in the U.S. Department of Education's athletics (EADA) file, so we can't list its teams. That doesn't mean it has none.

Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$20,170
After 10 yrs
$32,641
Music52
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$58M
Full-time faculty
28%
Faculty salary
$7,572/mo
Teaching spend
$30,729
per student
Federal loans
32%
Classification
Carnegie type
Special focus — arts, music & design
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if Cleveland Institute of Music is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

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