Frequently Asked Questions

No. There isn’t a separate application to be considered for admissions. Students apply to CCM when selecting a CCM major (as their first choice major for undergraduates) during the completion of their undergraduate or graduate application. After the admission application is submitted, students will then complete the application process to CCM by uploading pre-screening materials via to CCM's Acceptd website. All programs require submission of pre-screening materials.

Current UC students need to fill out the CCM Change in College and Program application.

For undergraduate applicants there is a $50 fee (non-refundable) to apply to the University of Cincinnati.

  • First-year student applicants eligible for a fee waiver, may submit the NACAC Fee Waiver. Their guidance counselor must complete and submit the form directly to UC’s Office of Admissions.
  • Transfer student applicants will complete steps within their application to request a fee waiver. The UC Office of Admissions will review requests and grant waivers on a case-by-case basis. 

Please visit the UC Admissions website for any updates regarding application fee waivers.

CCM will waive the pre-screening fee (collected in Acceptd) if you qualify for a UC fee waiver (requirements listed above). To access this waiver please contact us at ccmadmis@ucmail.uc.edu

For graduate applicants, there is a $65 (domestic) or $70 (international) non-refundable fee to apply to the University of Cincinnati.

UC Application fee waivers are granted for US active-duty military members and veterans, as well as participants in any of the following programs: 

  • McNair Scholars
  • State of Ohio STARS Scholars
  • GEM Scholars

The waiver will be applied automatically upon submission of your graduate application for those applicants who qualify. 

CCM will waive the $60 program fee (collected in Acceptd) if you qualify for a UC graduate application fee waiver (requirements listed above). To access this waiver please contact us at ccmadmis@ucmail.uc.edu 
*We cannot waive The Acceptd fee.

Please visit the UC Graduate Admissions website for updates regarding UC application fee waivers.

All undergraduate applicants are required to write an essay as part of their online application. Graduate students write a 500-word personal statement.

CCM honors the code of ethics established by the National Association of Schools of Music as well as the spirit of the code of ethics with respect to all of its programs. Therefore, students applying to transfer to a CCM major from any program at another university or college must have the Transfer Form signed by a representative of the school where they are currently enrolled. After you apply for admission, CCM will send you a copy of this form to complete. We must have this form before you can be considered for a CCM scholarship.

You are required to submit high school transcripts if you have earned fewer than 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college credit. Test scores are not required.

Please refer to your specific major under the program-specific requirements for your desired major(s).

There are no minimum requirements for admission to CCM. Applicants are evaluated based off a holistic review of their application for admission and their pre-screen/audition performance. Additionally, the University of Cincinnati is test optional for undergraduate applicants.

Yes, all MFA students who attended URTA and spoke with faculty must still apply to CCM by uploading the required pre-screening materials to Acceptd in order to be considered for admissions at UC/CCM.

For issues with Acceptd please contact their Help Desk. 

Yes, only students who submit an application and upload required pre-screening materials will be considered for admission. Pre-screening materials must be submitted to CCM's Acceptd website.

Your admission decision will be sent to you as soon as a final decision is made, but no later than April 1.  

Yes. Please call UC Admissions at 513-556-1100 to change your intended major. Please note that certain university programs fill-up early in the application process. If you are admitted into the University of Cincinnati under a non-CCM major, you may apply to CCM the following fall as a change of college applicant.

Graduate students who are denied admissions into their desired degree program may apply again the following fall.

The University of Cincinnati Admissions office needs to see that you have completed the articulation requirements to be admitted. If you have done an internet-based program, you should order your transcripts through that program and have them sent to UC. If you were in another type of school environment, the University needs to see how you learned the material, what you were evaluated against, and a signed document from your school district allowing you to be homeschooled. For more information, please contact UC Admissions at admissions.uc.edu or 513-556-1100.

Yes. The Transfer Credit Information website will tell you exactly what credit you will receive at UC for your AP, IB, and CLEP scores.

All CCM applicants are automatically considered for a talent-based scholarship. These are awarded in the early spring based on audition results and the recommendations of our faculty. Learn more about additional CCM scholarship opportunities.

All incoming undergraduate freshmen applying directly from their last year in high school are automatically considered for the Cincinnatus Scholarship, awarded by the university, to academically qualified students as long as all materials are received by December 1.

University Graduate Assistantships cover full tuition plus a 9-month stipend of $4,416 - $10,746 depending on the level of study and specific assignment. The graduate assistantship also includes payment for the semesterly instructional fee. A personal interview in Cincinnati is generally required for consideration.

Some programs require additional materials and pre-screenings for consideration. Please refer to the specific audition/interview requirements for your desired major.

  • Administrative Assistants
  • All Orchestral Instruments
  • Arts Administration
  • Choral Conducting
  • Classical Guitar
  • Instrumental Techniques (teaching): string, brass, woodwinds
  • Jazz Studies
  • Music Education (teaching)
  • Music History (teaching)
  • Musical Theater Accompanying
  • Opera Coaching and Accompanying
  • Opera Production
  • Orchestral Conducting
  • Organ
  • Piano
  • Studio Accompanying (vocal and instrumental)
  • Theater Design and Production
  • Theater Performance
  • Theory (teaching)
  • Voice
  • Wind Conducting

To be considered for a graduate assistantship, applicants must be admitted unconditionally and receive a specific recommendation for an assignment. Graduate Assistantships are awarded by the CCM Graduate Admissions and Awards Committee. All assistantship decisions will be made by April 1.

Double majors are possible, but the options vary based off which major at CCM you are interested in pursuing. For more information, please contact the CCM Admissions Office.

You must confirm enrollment to CCM before an I-20 can be issued. You will need to verify funding using the Financial Certification Form. Refer to CCM's instructions for international applicants for more information.

  1. After you’ve completed your application and submitted all required materials (including pre-screening submission), we will then provide you with an admissions decision or audition/interview request.
  2. After your audition is scheduled (if applicable), you will receive an email confirming your audition date. If you need to change your audition date after it has been scheduled, you will be charged a $100 change fee.
  3. Auditions and interviews are held in January and February.
  4. Auditions and interviews are held at the faculty’s request only and is not required for all students to be considered for admissions
  5. Most students will receive an admission decision from us by April 1. We will notify you of all scholarship awards by April 1 at the latest (pending all required application materials are submitted). If admitted, undergraduates have until May 1 to confirm enrollment; graduates have until April 15 to confirm enrollment. Students admitted after April 1 will have two weeks from the release of their decision letter to decide if they wish to accept or decline our offer of admissions.
  6. Relax, take a deep breath and prepare well for your audition. Remember: this is what you love to do!