Lesley University

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Degree Programs Offered at Lesley University

Lesley University appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs at Private Colleges. Lesley University offers more than 70 majors for undergraduate students. The university’s education department is the largest on-campus department and has nine majors available. The early childhood education program prepares students for working with kids under the age of five. The elementary education major prepares them work with children up through the sixth grade. There are also options for those who want to work in a special education classroom or with middle school or secondary school students. Lesley also offers an adult completion program in education for students who have college credits. The university’s business management department is also popular. It offers six programs. In addition to the general business management program, there are tracks for adult learners and online students. To go along with the major, the university recommends minors in:
  • digital marketing
  • financial planning
  • nonprofit management
  • sports marketing and management
The university’s counseling and psychology programs include a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art Therapy and a BA in Expressive Therapy. Both programs teach students how to use art and other methods as they counsel patients. A major in holistic psychology and wellness is available. There’s also a major in general psychology for online students. More than 100 fields of study are open to graduate students, including both degree and certificate programs. Those interested in art and design can select from 16 programs that include art education and clinical counseling and art therapy. Most of these programs include fieldwork components that ask students to do 1,000 hours or more of work off-campus. More than 50 programs are open to education majors, including:
  • inclusive special education
  • math education
  • digital literacy and computer science
  • teaching English as a second language
Lesley graduate students can major in:
  • expressive therapy
  • science
  • math
  • social science
  • business management

About Lesley University

Lesley University is a private university formerly ranked as one of the top women’s colleges in the United States. It was established in 1909 by Edith Lesley. It opened as the Lesley School/Lesley Normal School.  During the 1940s, the small school became Lesley College It added dorms and other buildings for new students. It continued operating as a college until becoming Lesley University in 2001. Four years later, it became a coeducational university with the addition of on-campus residence halls for young men. The university now offers several programs for adults  There are online degree programs and options for students on the university’s main campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. More than 7,500 students are enrolled at Lesley University.

Lesley University Accreditation Details

Lesley University allows students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they need financial aid and get credit for the classes they took at another college. The university can do this because it has regional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Some of the programs available for incoming students have accreditation from other organizations that include:
  • the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
  • the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).

Lesley University Application Requirements

Both undergrads and students who want to enter an adult completion program will use the same application. Lesley has an early action deadline of December first and a preferred deadline of February 15. Students should have a transcript with a grade point average of 3.0 to 3.1 or higher. It needs to show that they took four years of English classes and three years of:
  • social studies
  • science
  • math
The university accepts standardized test scores from students. It requires one letter of recommendation. It will notify students within three weeks of the admissions board’s decision. Graduate students can apply to the university in one of two ways. The first method asks them to find the program that interests them on the website and click on the application button on the side. Students can also visit the admissions website and apply through that site. Programs can set requirements for incoming students beyond the application and application fee. The business management program requires two letters of recommendation from the student’s employers or teachers. They need to have been written within the last two years. Most programs ask for a personal statement of up to 900 words and a resume too.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate students at Lesley University pay $920 per credit hour in all of the university’s traditional degree programs. Those taking a full course load will pay $14,250 each semester. Students pay $100 in fees per semester for part-time enrollment and $125 per semester in fees for full-time enrollment. Part-time on-campus students pay $445 per credit hour. Those in one of the programs designed for adults will pay $540 per credit hour. Undergrads who do not have health insurance will need to pay $2,798 each year for health insurance. The university charges a $300 housing deposit and a minimum of $4,930 per year for a dorm room. On-campus residents also need to pay $3,185 each year for a meal plan. Lesley merit scholarships go to students who submit the FAFSA and an application that shows their merit. Those with a GPA of 2.7 or higher qualify for a scholarship of $8,500 a year. Several other scholarships award students $2,000 or more each year. Students can use those awards with any of the other financial aid that they get. These include:
  • grants
  • benefits for veterans and their children
  • work-study
  • loans.
Lesley only awards financial aid to students who apply and submit the FAFSA. Graduate students pay $1,130 per credit hour in any of the traditional Lesley programs and $650 per credit hour in an online program. Some of the education programs charge up to $840 per credit hour. They also pay $30 or more in fees each semester and $500 to $545 when they do internships and practicums. Graduate students can get financial aid from Lesley, which includes an on-campus job and an unsubsidized loan. Lesley University also allows students to use alternative loans when they enroll in any degree program.

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