Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Lesley University is a private national university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Lesley University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Lesley University is in the bottom 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $46,199 10 years after enrolling, 52nd in Massachusetts, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Lesley University bachelor students earn 6% less than the national average. Lesley University is ranked 54th in Massachusetts.
Lesley University’s median net annual cost of $33,446 and average years to graduate of 4.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Lesley University sorted by number of graduates - Liberal Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Design & Applied Arts, Business Administration, Therapeutic professions, Clinical / Counseling Psych - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$33,446
Average years to graduate
4.3
Education
Rank: #323
Economic score: 8.44
English Language & Lit
Rank: #321
Economic score: 12.09
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #217
Economic score: 17.38
FIlm, Video & Photography
Rank: #97
Economic score: 65.33
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Lesley University - Mental & Social Health Services, Education, Education (subject specific), Special Education, Education, Other, Rhetoric & Composition - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Curriculum and Instruction
Rank: #46
Economic score: 0.44
Education
Rank: #119
Economic score: 0.67
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies.
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.75
FIlm, Video & Photography
Rank: #10
Economic score: 2.28
Clinical / Counseling Psych
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 2.32
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Rank: #20
Economic score: 3.97
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.3 years. 65% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Lesley University is 8% lower than the state average, and 3% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Lesley University, Pell Grant recipients represent 32% of the measured graduating class, 3% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Lesley University graduates within 4.4 years.
Lesley University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Lesley University’s economic mobility score of 3.13 is calculated by adjusting the 11.58 economic score of lower-income students by the 32% pell grant recipients within the student body. Lesley University’s EMS of 3.13 ranks in the bottom 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 5%
The average Title IV recipient at Lesley University pays $33,446 a year, $17,724 less than the $51,170 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $33,446
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Lesley University, 100% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $33,446 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 60% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,965. This is 6% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,124
Pell grants
$4,565
State grants
$1,461
Institutional grants
$13,861
Lesley University offers 9 online bachelor programs, all of which are hybrid format. At the master’s level Lesley University offers 8 programs, one of which is held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
17
Hybrid programs
16
Percentage of programs online
19%
Lesley University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 87% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 2,942 applicants, of which 2,558 were admitted and 280 enrolled. Lesley University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Lesley University does not consider standardized testing in their admissions process.
Full time
69%
83%
Female
79%
59%
First time
56%
59%
In-state
63%
68%
1st generation
29%
35%
White
53%
52%
Black
10%
14%
Hispanic
18%
15%
Asian
6%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
13%
12%