Lesley University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lesley University charges a net price of $31,152/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $124,608. Graduates earn a median $51,173 ten years after entry, $2,813/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 44.3 years — a 20-year net return of -$68,348, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Lesley University's 44.3-year payback ranks #1,181 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 8% of them, and #57 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $31,152/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $124,608 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,173 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $2,813/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 44.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$68,348 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lesley University's own numbers. Net price $31,152 × 4 years = $124,608 total. Median earnings $51,173 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,813 a year of premium. $124,608 ÷ $2,813 = 44.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$68,348. 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 Lesley University students graduate with?
A median $21,000 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $51,173 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lesley University students graduate?
58% finish their degree — 42% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $124,608 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $214,841 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lesley University expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $31,152 net price runs $6,269 above the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, or $25,076 more across the full degree.