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Lesley University
Cambridge, MA 1,252 Undergrads 62.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$49,226
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$31,805
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,173
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$31,805
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,173
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time71.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
94.4%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$447k
+$50k
-$38k
Median Cost$32k/yr
+$332k
-$64k
-$152k
Full Cost$49k/yr
+$270k
-$127k
-$215k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$32k/yr
Never
-133%
Full Cost$49k/yr
Never
-121%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-126%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-94%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,292
Earnings (5yr)
$76,642
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$49,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$23,333
Earnings (5yr)
$51,256
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,722
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$26,974
Earnings (5yr)
$44,851
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$23,968
Earnings (5yr)
$38,437
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,167
Earnings (5yr)
$41,991
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,286
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$37,868
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$16,355
Earnings (5yr)
$54,738
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Master's Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,482
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$31,458
Earnings (5yr)
$60,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (5yr)
$65,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
MastCIP: 3023
Median Debt
$42,279
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$66,083
Earnings (5yr)
$54,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$32,257
Earnings (5yr)
$68,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$34,401
Earnings (5yr)
$60,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$28,059
Earnings (5yr)
$67,360
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Doctoral Degrees
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$75,166
Earnings (5yr)
$82,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.