Lesley University (Cambridge, MA) — Cost, Earnings & Admissions

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $31,8051,786th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $32,7801,414th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $32,7801,348th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $49,2261,467th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $21,000757th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $51,1731,012th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $40,1501,219th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 61.7%702nd highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 76.9%852nd highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 94.4%1,391st most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: —
Median ACT: —

Campus

Undergraduates: 1,2521,228th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 10.0:1436th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 28.2%1,305th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 6 mi (BOS)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Massachusetts#56

Applying

EADec 1
Rollingopen

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 30 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$47,260	$50,606
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLiberal Arts	bachelors	$36,560	$34,704
MathematicsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$35,416	—
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$34,530	$38,289
Fine and Studio ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$32,925	—
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$32,015	$27,536
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation	bachelors	$31,423	$41,937
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyPsychology	bachelors	$31,236	$32,925
Design and Applied ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$29,202	$20,687
Research and Experimental PsychologyPsychology	bachelors	$27,439	$30,771
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	$24,615	$24,325
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$21,356	$25,774

Campus facts

Founded in 1909source
Athletic nickname: "Lynx"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Green and Whitesource
Motto: "Perissem Ni Perstitissem (Latin)"source
Formerly known as "Lesley School" (1909–1944)source
Formerly known as "Lesley College" (1944–2001)source
Formerly known as "School of Practical Art" (1912–1967)source
Formerly known as "Art Institute of Boston" (1967–1998)source
Athletic conference: New England Collegiate Conferencesource
Notable alum: Eliza Dushkusource

Athletics — 8 sports

NCAA Division III without football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.