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Cambridge, MA · Dudley, MA
| Lesley University | Nichols College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $31,152/yr | $33,036/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $24,799/yr | $22,054/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,000 | $27,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $24,044/yr | $24,749/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $29,030/yr | $31,978/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $33,201/yr | $33,851/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $35,152/yr | $35,731/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $223/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $19,920/yr | $15,800/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,600/yr | $8,700/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,500/yr | $1,400/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,280/yr | $2,500/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $51,538/yr | $58,310/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $34,256/yr | $42,705/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $34,256/yr | $42,705/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 31% | 26% |
| Students taking federal loans | 54% | 69% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 97% | 81% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1028–1236 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1140 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,509 | 2,117 |
| Students accepted | 2,369 | 1,866 |
| Students who enrolled | 189 | 333 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 8% | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 1% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 58% | 63% |
| Freshmen who come back | 72% | 72% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $51,173/yr | $58,063/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $32,463–$74,412 | $36,543–$75,311 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 59% | 60% |
| White students graduating | 59% | 67% |
| Black students graduating | 36% | 39% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 57% | 57% |
| Asian students graduating | 62% | 20% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $40,150/yr | $47,830/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 66% | 81% |
| Graduate on time | 43% | 61% |
| Pell students who graduate | 56% | 52% |
| First-gen students who finish | 56% | 56% |
| Low-income students who finish | 50% | 43% |
| Students who transfer out | 19% | 7.7% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $41,277/yr | $48,868/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Visual & Performing Arts 32% · Psychology 18% · Education 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 61% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 17% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 9% |
| Most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 32% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 61% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Psychology — 18% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 17% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Education — 11% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 11% of degrees | Psychology — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 8% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 3% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Education, General — $105,865/yr | Accounting and Related Services — $76,987/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 1.6% | 0% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,122 | 1,163 |
| Students per professor | 10 : 1 | 15 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,328 | 229 |
| Average professor pay | $8,813/mo | $9,714/mo |
| Full-time professors | 27% | 35% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $51,995 | $68,677 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Cambridge, MA | Dudley, MA |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1909 | 1815 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.2% | 2.8% |
| Men | 29% | 66% |
| Women | 71% | 34% |
| White students | 46% | 73% |
| Black students | 8.6% | 7.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 19% | 10% |
| Asian students | 5.9% | 1.3% |
| Two or more races | 4.2% | 3.4% |
| Other / not reported | 13% | 1.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 29% | 32% |
| Part-time students | 30% | 7.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 19% | 6.2% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $14,953/yr | $6,461/yr |
| Endowment | $184.9M | $31.7M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 799 | 805 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $11,480/yr | $8,500/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,580/yr | $6,450/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | No |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III without football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 24 |
| Student athletes | 167 | 557 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $844,799 | $4.5M |
| Athletics revenue | $844,799 | $4.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $15,774 | $65,813 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.