Financing Your Education

Together, We Can Fund Your Future

We understand that paying for college is not easy. At the Cleveland Institute of Art, we pride ourselves in offering a personal touch to a potentially confusing process—financing your education. We are ready to clarify tricky topics, answer questions, discuss any concerns regarding your ability to afford CIA, or consider special financial situations.

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Our financial aid counselors are committed to helping you find ways to close the gap between the cost of attending the Institute and your ability to fund this education. We will work with you to craft a personalized financial aid package that combines any available Institute-sponsored aid, federal aid, scholarships, loans, and work study programs. 

As you begin to make important choices, keep in mind these numbers: 

• 98%: percentage of CIA students who receive financial assistance 
• 210+: number of awards and scholarships available to current students
• 90%: percentage of accepted 2012–13 students who received a CIA merit scholarship
• 52% of these accepted students have received a Merit Scholarship of $15,000 or more.
• $30,236: the average financial aid package for enrolled students new to CIA this fall 
• 80%: of our students participate in internships while completing their studies at CIA.

Discover Actual Cost

CIA is a private college and, unlike most public colleges, can reduce the cost of tuition based on a student's portfolio, academic and financial profile. See the three case studies below for more information, or download a PDF copy of our Affordability Brochure.

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How Does the Financial Aid Process Work at CIA?

Once you have received an acceptance letter from CIA, you may be eligible for federal financial assistance if you:

• are a U.S. citizen
• have a high school diploma or general equivalency credentials (GED)
• have registered for the draft if you are a male between ages 18 and 26 (see sss.gov)
• maintain satisfactory academic progress
• qualify for need-based assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA)

You should complete and submit the FAFSA by the March 15 priority deadline. Some aid (Perkins, SEOG, FWS) is only awarded to on-time applicants.

Financial Aid During International and Domestic Study

If you plan on studying abroad while remaining a degree-seeking student at CIA, it may be possible to receive financial aid through CIA. Most students will not be able to retain the same aid package when studying elsewhere (including CIA Merit scholarships), but certain types of aid and loans may be available.

To be eligible for financial aid while not enrolled for classes at CIA, the foreign institution that you will be attending must have a U.S. Department of Education Title IV School Code, and you must meet specific enrollment, passport/visa, and financial requirements. This process takes planning and additional paperwork has to be processed, so please contact the Office of Financial Aid for details as soon as possible.

CIA Financial Aid Office Promise

We promise to assist you in achieving your educational goals by providing guidance and support in paying for your education. Through teamwork, we will promote professional and technical enhancements in an effort to be timely and accurate in the administration of financial aid. Each financial aid employee is held to the highest ethical principles as defined by our code of conduct.

Learn More

Read about applying for financial aid, our application checklist and deadlines, loans or payment plan options. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact our Office of Financial Aid. We look forward to helping you in whatever way we can to make this often confusing process as easy and simple as possible.