Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Lasell University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Newton, MA · 1,226 students

The verdict

Lasell University charges a net price of $27,511/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $110,044. Graduates earn a median $49,705 ten years after entry, $1,345/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 81.8 years — a 20-year net return of -$83,144, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share

Lasell University's 81.8-year payback ranks #1,220 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 5% of them, and #59 of 85 in Massachusetts.

Better ROI than 5% of US colleges#1,220 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$27,511
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$49,705
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
81.8 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
81%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Lasell University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$27,511/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$110,044our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$49,705Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$1,345/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$26,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback81.8 yrsour math
20-year net return-$83,144our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Lasell University's own numbers. Net price $27,511 × 4 years = $110,044 total. Median earnings $49,705 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,345 a year of premium. $110,044 ÷ $1,345 = 81.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$83,144. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Lasell University students graduate with?

A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 52% of the $49,705 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Lasell University students graduate?

59% finish their degree — 41% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $110,044 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $186,515 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Lasell University expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?

Its $27,511 net price runs $2,628 above the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, or $10,512 more across the full degree.

Lasell University: frequently asked questions

Is Lasell University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Lasell University charges $27,511/yr after aid ($110,044 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $49,705 ten years out — $1,345/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 81.8 years and returns -$83,144 net over 20 years, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone.
How long does a Lasell University degree take to pay off?
About 81.8 years. We divide the $110,044 four-year net cost by the $1,345/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Lasell University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $27,511/yr — about $110,044 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Lasell University compare to other Massachusetts colleges?
It ranks #59 of 85 Massachusetts colleges we track by payback. Its $49,705 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $27,511 net price is above the national median of $16,902.