Cleveland Institute of Art vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cleveland Institute of Art comes closer — median earnings $42,509 against a $116,832 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cleveland Institute of Art | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,208 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $116,832 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,509 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$233,852 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cleveland Institute of Art or ATA College-Cincinnati?
ATA College-Cincinnati, at $27,055 a year after aid versus $29,208 — a gap of $2,153 a year, or $8,612 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cleveland Institute of Art or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Cleveland Institute of Art graduates report a median $42,509 ten years after entry, $7,932 more than the $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Cleveland Institute of Art or ATA College-Cincinnati?
ATA College-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Cleveland Institute of Art, a difference of $5,970. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at ATA College-Cincinnati, against 58% at Cleveland Institute of Art. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.