Cleveland Institute of Art is one of the nation's leading accredited independent colleges of art and design. Offering 15 majors in fine art, craft, design and digital arts, the college has been an educational cornerstone in Ohio since 1882, producing graduates who are leaders in their disciplines as studio artists, designers, photographers, contemporary craftspersons, entrepreneurs, and educators.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Admissions Office
Cleveland, OH 44106
Experience College Life
Frank Gehry and Peter B. Lewis Building
Live music at Barking Spider
Cleveland Museum of Art
Reinberger Galleries
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Cleveland Botanical Gardens
Crawford Auto Museum
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland Institute of Music Gund School of Law Cleveland Clinic Severence Hall (home of the Cleveland Orchestra) Coventry Shopping District/Neighborhood Rock and Roll Hall of Fame House of Blues Browns/Indians Stadium CAVS/Arena Legacy Village Shopping Center Nottingham Spirk Design Firm Playhouse Square East 4th Corneralley CIA is located in the University Circle area of Cleveland. The nation's most concentrated cultural district after NYC.
Campus Tours
8:30am-4:30pm
216-421-7418
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: Varies
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
To be considered for admission, you must follow the application procedures and criteria below.
- Complete the application online at cia.edu/apply
- Submit the $40 application fee (fee is waived if you apply online). Make checks payable to the Cleveland Institute of Art.
- Arrange to have your high school transcripts sent to the Office of Admissions. If you have successfully completed 24 college credits and attended a regionally accredited college or university full time for a year or more, have your college transcripts sent instead.
- Have one letter of recommendation completed on your behalf. We suggest this be from an art teacher. We also will accept this letter from a counselor or someone who understands your desire to pursue an arts education.
- Optional: Request SAT or ACT test results be sent to CIA. Our school numbers are: SAT: 1152 and ACT: 3243. International students whose first language is not English must submit the TOEFL with a minimum score of 60 IBT (Internet-based test). We also accept a band score of at least 6.0 on the IELTS or completion of Level 112 of ESL coursework.
- Submit your portfolio of artwork. All work can be submitted via our online application (go.cia.edu). Your portfolio should consist of no fewer than 12 and no more than 20 pieces of work. Please carefully follow all our portfolio guidelines.
Application materials should be submitted online. Our mailing address, if paper-based materials need to be forwarded is: Cleveland Institute of Art, Office of Admissions, 11610 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland OH 44106.
Applications can be submitted at any time before the first day of classes and will be considered as long as space is available. However, candidates are encouraged to follow application deadlines to ensure eligibility for merit scholarships and institutional financial aid. Dates and deadlines can be viewed online.
Applications are welcome from all qualified students. The admissions committee bases its decisions on a careful review of all credentials submitted by the applicant. Acceptance decisions are made without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status, age, ethnic or national origin, religion, creed, veteran status, or physical or mental disability in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.
Visit cia.edu/admissions for more info.
Overview
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Early Action — December 1
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Academics
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From The School
Academic Programs
At CIA, we've made an academic commitment to prepare students for a creative career by engaging them in community-based learning, real-world projects, and social practices. Through a selection of field-based courses, our students graduate with real-world experience working on real-world projects. From our early relationships with the auto industry, to relationships today with NASA, students across all of our disciplines are learning the skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century. Whether you're a performance artist or a product designer, you'll learn to use your creativity to collaborate, communicate your ideas, and solve problems to make work that makes a difference in the world.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Cleveland Institute of Art offers 17 programs in art, design, craft, and digital media. After a foundation year developing strong skills in drawing, design and problem-solving, you'll enter your major spending three intense years building skills and mastering techniques. CIA faculty will encourage you to develop a wider perspective by experimenting with media outside your major through interdisciplinary study.
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects.
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HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Ceramic Arts and Ceramics.
Drawing.
Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other.
Game and Interactive Media Design.
Graphic Design.
Illustration.
Industrial and Product Design.
Interior Design.
Metal and Jewelry Arts.
Painting.
Photography.
Printmaking.
Sculpture.
Students Say
Degrees
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Careers
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Estimated 2019-20 full-time tuition is US$41,490. Estimated fees are $2,895. Estimated housing for incoming first-year students is $8,940 for our apartment-style residence halls, and $2,650 for meal plan.
Financial Aid
Cleveland Institute of Art offers merit and need-based financial aid, as well as federal and state financial aid. 95% of students enrolled in 2019-20 received scholarships. Average financial aid package for 2017-18 was $39,0028
CIA's Financial aid officers work with students to craft a personalized financial aid package that combines merit and need-based scholarships, federal loans and grants, scholarships, loans, and work study programs.
Dates
Required Forms
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Academic Merit-based scholarships from CIA funds
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Other
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
With approximately 650 students from around the country and the world, CIA offers a personal educational experience with the benefits of a larger institution. Surrounded by creative-minded friends and mentors, CIA students find inspiration inside and outside of the studio. Students also experience a community full of cultural energy, ethnic neighborhoods, and a vibrant downtown, all accessible by public transportation.
When not in the studio, CIA students can enjoy organized activities, annual campus traditions, and various student groups that specialize in topics from academics to religion. Some favorite traditions include late-night breakfasts during finals, the wildly creative Halloween costume party, and the year-end school-wide picnic. Numerous clubs, based on disciplines (printmaking, game design) to interests (LGBTQ, Christian fellowship) offer students opportunities to share experiences, look new skills, and meet leaders in their communities.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
CIA is located in Cleveland's University Circle, home of the world-renowned Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as spaces for contemporary art, dance, and performance. One of the most culturally dense square miles anywhere in the United States, University Circle was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the most beautiful communities in the country. University Circle is also home to Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Music, with a combined enrollment of 11,000 students, offering CIA students the experience of a traditional college campus, and the personal attention of a boutique college.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Cleveland Institute of Art's contemporary campus provides students with spaces designed specifically for studying, living, and exhibiting art and design. It's four-story atrium floods the building with natural light, perfect for creating and studying. Our fabrication studios and computer labs have the latest in traditional and new technologies to allow students to execute what they imagine. Students in their majors receive studio spaces that model what life after college will be like, from skylit factory spaces for painters to collaborative design studios.
CIA's campus is home to the Reinberger Gallery, presenting exhibitions of contemporary artists from across the country; the Peter B. Lewis Theater, home of CIA's nationally acclaimed Cinematheque film program; the Jessica R. Gund Memorial Library, which has collections specifically developed for the visual artist and designer; the Stone Flower Cafe; and CIA's Fabrication Studios, offering tools and training in wood, plastic, metal, stone, clay and digital print production.
First and second-year students live on campus in CIA-owned housing. First-year students live in our Uptown Residence Hall, which opened in 2014. Designed in consultation with students, these two-bedroom suites house two students per bedroom, each with their own bath. Bedrooms are connected by a common work area and kitchenette. Second-year students reside in our new upperclass residence hall, featuring four-person suites with individual bedrooms. Both residence halls offer workout spaces, on-site printing, and free laundry.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Cleveland's many diverse neighborhoods are just minutes from our campus via public transportation, where you can sample the city's best restaurants, take in a concert or comedy show, explore its galleries, take art walks, and visit Cleveland's beaches and lush parks. If you're a sports fan, plan on cheering on the Cleveland Indians, Cavaliers, or Browns at their downtown venues.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Disabled Student
Frat Sorority
Wellness Housing
Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Documentation Required for LD
In accordance with guidelines established by the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the documentation provided should include the following: • A clear, specific diagnosis • Credentials of the licensed professional providing the diagnosis (who has no personal relationship with the individual being evaluated) • An explanation of the current manifestations or functional limitations of the disability • A description of current and past accommodations, services and/or medications and their effects • Recommendations for accommodations or support services that relate directly to the current functional impact of the disability. All documentation must be submitted on official letterhead of the professional/service provider describing the disability. CIA accepts (i) Individual Education Plans (IEP) and/or 504 plans from secondary and elementary schools along with (ii) a multi-factored psychoeducational assessment (MFE) or Evaluation Team Report (ETR) completed by a psychologist or school psychologist. Either type of document is acceptable, but both are preferred. In cases where students were not assessed by their school personnel, psycho-educational assessments from a private psychologist and/or medical evaluations or reports are also acceptable. Please note that individual “learning styles,” “academic problems,” and “test difficulty or anxiety,” in and of themselves, do not constitute a learning disability. Students may be asked to provide additional information if the submitted documentation is incomplete or does not support the request for accommodations. Students should keep a copy of the documentation for their personal records. Students who do not have documentation are encouraged to meet with the LSS staff to explore options for support. LSS destroys documentation and other disability-related information seven years after students leave CIA. ACCOMMODATIONS Students with qualifying documented learning disabilities are eligible, on a case-by-case basis, to the following: • Faculty notification of general learning disability • Extended testing time • Oral / scribed exams • Notetaking assistance • Audio books through Learning Ally via iPAD or PC • Assistive technology (available both in the Writing + Learning Center and on individualized iPads given to incoming students): • Text-to speech software http://synapseadaptive.com/wynn/wynn.htm • Voice recognition software • http://dragonvoicerecognition.com • Brain-mapping software http://www.inspiration.com • Audiobooks http://learningally.com Students with specific medical or mobility-related issues can receive preferential scheduling and/or seating, as well as specific in-class accommodations arranged with individual professors based on medical necessity. CIA also has a Writing + Learning Center. This facility is available to all CIA students who need assistance with writing. It also serves as the main hub for specialized software for students with documented learning disabilities.Documentation Required for ADHD
In accordance with guidelines established by the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the documentation provided should include the following: • A clear, specific diagnosis • Credentials of the licensed professional providing the diagnosis (who has no personal relationship with the individual being evaluated) • An explanation of the current manifestations or functional limitations of the disability • A description of current and past accommodations, services and/or medications and their effects • Recommendations for accommodations or support services that relate directly to the current functional impact of the disability. All documentation must be submitted on official letterhead of the professional/service provider describing the disability. CIA accepts (i) Individual Education Plans (IEP) and/or 504 plans from secondary and elementary schools along with (ii) a multi-factored psychoeducational assessment (MFE) or Evaluation Team Report (ETR) completed by a psychologist or school psychologist. Either type of document is acceptable, but both are preferred. In cases where students were not assessed by their school personnel, psycho-educational assessments from a private psychologist and/or medical evaluations or reports are also acceptable. Please note that individual “learning styles,” “academic problems,” and “test difficulty or anxiety,” in and of themselves, do not constitute a learning disability. Students may be asked to provide additional information if the submitted documentation is incomplete or does not support the request for accommodations. Students should keep a copy of the documentation for their personal records. Students who do not have documentation are encouraged to meet with the LSS staff to explore options for support. LSS destroys documentation and other disability-related information seven years after students leave CIA. ACCOMMODATIONS Students with qualifying documented learning disabilities are eligible, on a case-by-case basis, to the following: • Faculty notification of general learning disability • Extended testing time • Oral / scribed exams • Notetaking assistance • Audio books through Learning Ally via iPAD or PC • Assistive technology (available both in the Writing + Learning Center and on individualized iPads given to incoming students): • Text-to speech software http://synapseadaptive.com/wynn/wynn.htm • Voice recognition software • http://dragonvoicerecognition.com • Brain-mapping software http://www.inspiration.com • Audiobooks http://learningally.com Students with specific medical or mobility-related issues can receive preferential scheduling and/or seating, as well as specific in-class accommodations arranged with individual professors based on medical necessity. CIA also has a Writing + Learning Center. This facility is available to all CIA students who need assistance with writing. It also serves as the main hub for specialized software for students with documented learning disabilities.Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Student Services
Womens Center
LGBT Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: John Carroll University
Navy ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: The Ohio State University
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Kent State University
Sustainability
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/