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Lesley University
Cambridge, MA 1,122 Undergrads 61.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$51,538
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$31,152
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,117
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$31,152
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$55,117
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate61.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time70.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
96.9%
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
+$496k
+$29k
+$12k
Median Cost$31k/yr
+$384k
-$83k
-$100k
Full Cost$52k/yr
+$311k
-$156k
-$174k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
51
∞
Median Cost$31k/yr
Never
-90%
Full Cost$52k/yr
Never
-94%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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-79%
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-83%
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
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,292
Earnings (4yr)
$67,879
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$52,367
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Natl Median: $52,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$23,333
Earnings (4yr)
$45,099
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,260
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$26,974
Earnings (4yr)
$45,508
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$23,968
Earnings (4yr)
$41,320
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$18,683
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,167
Earnings (4yr)
$45,293
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,837
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,129
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,640
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$16,355
Earnings (4yr)
$52,570
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$49,175
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,482
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$28,169
Earnings (4yr)
$66,404
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$31,458
Earnings (4yr)
$64,580
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$67,170
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$470k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,492
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
MastCIP: 3023
Median Debt
$42,279
Earnings (4yr)
$69,678
Natl Median: $63,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$66,083
Earnings (4yr)
$60,700
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,236
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$32,257
Earnings (4yr)
$68,384
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$34,401
Earnings (4yr)
$58,844
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$28,059
Earnings (4yr)
$68,067
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Graduate Certificates
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$75,166
Earnings (4yr)
$107,723
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
DocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,066
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.