Lesley University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It enrolls 1,122 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes48
Value9
Affordability28
Selectivity6
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.9%, Lesley University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.9%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lesley University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
19.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lesley University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $31,152 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$31,152
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
54%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,256
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,920
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,600
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,280
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,350
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,538
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$24,799
$30,001 – $48,000
$24,044
$48,001 – $75,000
$29,030
$75,001 – $110,000
$33,201
Over $110,000
$35,152
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,19610%percentile
$6,96025%percentile
$21,000Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,750
↓ $5,250
No Pell $14,171
↓ $6,829
Dependent students $15,125
↓ $5,875
Independent students $14,956
↓ $6,044
Female students $15,716
↓ $5,284
Male students $14,000
↓ $7,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($21,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at Lesley University graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lesley University earn a median of $51,173 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,173
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,800, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lesley University is home to 1,122 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,122
Part-Time
30%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 46.4%520
Hispanic 18.9%212
Black 8.7%97
Asian 5.9%66
Other 4.6%51
International 3.2%36
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lesley University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityCambridge, Massachusetts
Housing
Strongly residential799 beds for 1,122 students
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Lesley University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
51 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lesley University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$275M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$80,315
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
135 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
42
31%
$93,428
Associate Professors
37
27%
$80,331
Assistant Professors
32
24%
$72,890
Instructors
15
11%
$59,399
No Rank
9
7%
—
Pros & Cons of Lesley University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lesley University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Lesley University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lesley University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lesley University.
Is Lesley University hard to get into?
Lesley University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Lesley University?
Lesley University has an acceptance rate of 96.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lesley University cost?
The average net price after aid at Lesley University is $31,152 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lesley University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,173 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $31,152 per year. That's roughly 1.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lesley University known for?
Lesley University is best known for its programs in Mental Health Services, Teacher Education (K-12), Design. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lesley University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lesley University are $51,173, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lesley University accredited?
Yes. Lesley University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Lesley University?
Lesley University enrolls 1,122 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lesley University?
Lesley University graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lesley University a public or private college?
Lesley University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lesley University located?
Lesley University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
What programs does Lesley University offer?
Lesley University offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Mental Health Services, Teacher Education (K-12), Design.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lesley University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lesley University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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