TRANSFER TO CIA
Transfer your creativity
Ready to join our creative community? Here's everything you need to know about transferring to CIA.
If you have earned credit or a degree from an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or post-secondary professional school, we encourage you to apply to the Cleveland Institute of Art.
Transferring to a new college can seem challenging. But at CIA, we do our best to personally ease you through the process.
Application Requirements
Apply through the Common App or the CIA Application. Both options are free!
Tell us why you want to attend CIA. You can share an optional second piece on any topic of your choice!
For Transfer Students: You must submit high school transcripts with proof of graduation or GED equivalent. You must also submit official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and post-secondary schools attended.
Transcripts must be sent directly from your school(s). They can be submitted through the Common App, by email to admissions@cia.edu or kwellman@cia.edu, or by mail:
Office of Admissions
Cleveland Institute of Art
11610 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
Using the online catalog of your college, cut and paste (into a Word document) descriptions of art and design classes you’ve taken. Please email the document to kwellman@cia.edu, so that we can review for credit evaluation and placement.
You do not need to send course descriptions for liberal arts/general education classes.
Your portfolio should include your best 12 to 20 pieces of work. The selections should highlight your technical skills, problem-solving skills, and how you use your chosen mediums.
Our transfer admissions counselor will be glad to answer any questions.
WHEN TO SUBMIT YOUR PORTFOLIO
- Submitting through CIA’s application: You will upload your artwork through the Online Application. You can do this at the same time that you submit the application, or return to the Applicant Status Page at a later date. You may also upload your artwork through SlideRoom.
- Submitting through the Common Application: You will receive instructions for uploading your portfolio within 48-72 hours of submission. You will use the Applicant Status Page or SlideRoom to upload your artwork.
A letter of recommendation from an art teacher, a counselor or someone who understands your desire to pursue an education in art and design.
If English is not your native language, you must demonstrate proof of English language proficiency with one of the following and the appropriate minimum score:
- TOEFL iBT: 60
- IELTS total band: 5.5
- Duolingo English: 95
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 520
- ACT English and Reading scores: 39
Meet staff
Karen Wellman
Assistant DirectorKaren graduated with a BA in Art, with a concentration in Painting, and focus in Art History, from Cleveland State University. Karen worked at several galleries in the Cleveland area,…
View profileDavon Brantley
Senior Admissions CounselorBrantley is a Cleveland-based artist, implementing self-portraiture and psychology within his work and drawing inspiration from the dissociative behaviors that happen as a result of life experiences and trauma. Brantley…
View profileJames Malley
DirectorJames earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace University. He also earned a Master of Education from Vandercook College in Chicago, IL. Originally born in Manhattan…
View profileYvette Sobky Shaffer
Vice President, Enrollment Management + MarketingYvette Sobky Shaffer most recently served as the Director of Admission at Parsons School of Design at The New School. An Ohio native, she began her career as a student…
View profileAdam Lucas
Associate ProfessorAdam Swift Lucas (b. 1983) is a graphic designer, publisher, and educator living and working in Cleveland, Ohio. He runs Specific Ideas, a multidisciplinary creative practice that is one part…
View profileAlyssa Perry
Assistant Professor + Coordinator, Writing + Learning CenterAlyssa Perry is a writer, editor, and teacher. She is the author of Oily Doily (Bench Editions, 2024). Her writing appears with Annulet, The Canary, Coma, Fence, Mercury Firs, River…
View profileLincoln Adams
Associate ProfessorLincoln Adams has worked for 20 years as an illustrator, storyboard artist and designer. His projects have included magazines, television shows, character design, book covers, and greeting cards and was…
View profileAmber Kempthorn
Assistant ProfessorAmber Kempthorn explores time and nostalgia through drawing. Her work has been exhibited across the U.S. and was included in the inaugural Front International Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art and…
View profileAnthony Ingrisano
Associate ProfessorAnthony Ingrisano is an instructor in CIA’s Painting and Foundation departments. Ingrisano shows with Lesley Heller Workspace in New York. Before he started at CIA, he taught at Briarcliffe College.…
View profileAnthony Scalmato
Associate ProfessorAnthony Scalmato has created more than 100 published works which have been viewed on television, web and mobile devices. Before joining CIA, Scalmato worked as a Senior Creative Developer at…
View profileConor Bracken
Assistant ProfessorA poet and translator of francophone poetry, Conor is the author of Henry Kissinger, Mon Amour (Bull City Press) and The Enemy of My Enemy is Me (Diode Editions), and…
View profileDan Cuffaro
Associate ProfessorDan Cuffaro is a designer, educator, and entrepreneur. He consults in the area of industrial design, design strategy and user experience, and is an expert witness in IP litigation. He…
View profileDinara Mirtalipova
Assistant ProfessorDinara Mirtalipova is a professional illustrator and folk artist. Born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and raised in Soviet Uzbek culture, Dinara inhabited Uzbek/Russian folklore that still influences her work.…
View profileGeorge N. Ramírez
Assistant ProfessorBS, Yale UniversityMS, University of PennsylvaniaMA, George Washington UniversityPhD, New York University George N. Ramírez is Assistant Professor of Media Studies at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He teaches courses…
View profileJason Tilk
Professor of PracticeJason Tilk is a passionately creative, multi-talented, educator, designer, and leader listed as inventor on 66 patents and counting. Focusing on team driven work to lead the process of innovation,…
View profileJimmy Kuehnle
ProfessorJimmy Kuehnle, has exhibited in the United States and internationally. In 2014, he was selected for the national survey exhibition State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now at the…
View profileQuestions about the application process?
Contact our Transfer Admissions Counselor, Karen Wellman at kwellman@cia.edu or 216.421.7422
Admissions Office Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 9am to 7pm
Friday: 9am to 4pm
Saturday: 10am to 1pm
Sunday: Closed