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Ohio residents: Apply to CIA and qualify for the Creative Spark Scholarship, making art and design education more accessible!
November 4, 2026
![Mike Butz headshot.]()
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2026
CLEVELAND—A private college education at the cost of a public university is now more within reach for aspiring Ohio artists and designers. The Cleveland Institute of Art has launched the Creative Spark Scholarship Program, a major investment in student access that allows eligible Ohio residents to attend one of the nation's leading colleges of art and design while paying $15,000 in tuition, comparable to in-state public university tuition rates.
The Creative Spark Scholarship Program reflects CIA's commitment to ensuring that cost does not prevent talented students from pursuing careers in art, design and creative industries. This merit-based scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding artistic potential and academic achievement through CIA's application and portfolio review process.
Students may receive the scholarship for up to four years, which means maintaining affordable access to CIA's studio-based learning environment, nationally recognized faculty, robust career and workforce development programs, and state-of-the-art facilities—including the Interactive Media Lab.
"When I grew up in Northeast Ohio, learning at a place like CIA seemed unattainable. The Creative Spark Scholarship shifts the paradigm by keeping the investment at a level similar to larger state universities but with the focus and quality of education that only CIA can provide," says Yvette Sobky Shaffer, Vice President of Enrollment Management + Marketing. "Some students will pay much less than $15,000 with the application of their state and federal aid, but for a student in an income bracket that is not eligible for much grant aid, this is a game changer. We're excited about making this level of investment in Ohio students."
CIA's Creative Spark Scholarship Program expands opportunities for Ohio students to build careers in creative industries without leaving the state. This is especially impactful as demand grows for creative professionals in fields such as entertainment art, digital media and product design, and when the World Economic Forum ranks "creative thinking" as the top skill needed by employers for 2027.
"Creative talent is one of Cleveland's greatest competitive advantages, and CIA wants to ensure that aspiring artists and designers from Ohio see a future for themselves here," says CIA President + CEO Kathryn Heidemann. "The Creative Spark Scholarship removes financial barriers while connecting students to an education that prepares them for high-demand creative careers. By investing in these students, CIA is helping strengthen Ohio's creative economy for years to come."
Based on the 2026–27 tuition costs throughout Ohio, CIA defines the cost of in-state, public tuition to be approximately $15,000 for the 2027–28 academic year. Tuition and Creative Spark Scholarship amounts may vary between academic years, and tuition increases will apply. Housing, fees and other educational expenses are not included in the scholarship amount. However, additional grants, loans and outside scholarships may be applied to the remaining balance to help offset those costs.
To be eligible for the Creative Spark Scholarship Program, students must be:
- new, first-time freshmen or transfer students
- enroll as full-time students in Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 semesters
- live in on-campus housing for CIA's mandatory residency requirement
Additional eligibility requirements for the 2027–28 academic year include submitting an initial application by CIA's Early Action deadline on December 1 and having all required materials submitted to complete the application—including the FAFSA—by January 1, 2027.
Prospective students can begin their application today at cia.edu/admissions and learn more about the Creative Spark Scholarship Program at cia.edu/spark.
To schedule a campus visit or talk to an admissions counselor, students and families can contact CIA's Office of Admissions at admissions@cia.edu or 216.421.7418.
Contacts
Cleveland Institute of Art
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404
Cleveland Institute of Art
The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 550 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.
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