First-Year Students
Students may apply to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Art and Design, or both! We offer two admissions programs. The Early Action program serves students who wish to receive an early, non-binding admissions decision; the application deadline is December 1st. The Regular Admission program is available to students who submit their application by the preferred deadline of February 15. Lesley uses the Common Application exclusively. All first-year students must submit a completed application along with the following:
- an official copy of the high school transcript, HiSet, or GED. The high school transcript may be sent electronically through Naviance or the Common Application
- one teacher recommendation – we will accept up to two
- one counselor recommendation / Secondary School Report
Standardized Testing
- Lesley University is “test optional”
- Applicants to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Art and Design, or applicants to both undergraduate colleges do not need to submit SAT/ACT test scores.
- The SAT/ACT is also optional for international applicants
Portfolios
- Students applying to BFA programs in the College of Art and Design must submit a digital portfolio of 12-20 pieces.
College level coursework
If you are dually enrolled in college coursework or simply taking some college level classes, you may submit official college transcripts electronically through a variety of secure sites such as, but not limited to; Parchment, Credential Solutions, E-Scrip Safe, Clearinghouse, Naviance/Common Application, JST Services.
Successful candidates will be on track to graduate from high school or a program of home-schooled study with a total of at least 20 college-prep units including: 4 units of English; at least 3 units of math (must include Algebra II); at least 3 units of history/social science (must include U.S. History); and at least 3 units of science with a minimum of 2 lab courses. We strongly recommend that students take a fourth year of math, science, social science, and at least two years of a foreign language. Although not required, interviews or portfolio reviews are strongly encouraged.
Academic performance, rigor of curriculum, strength of portfolio, demonstrated motivation, along with commitment to community engagement form the basis of all admissions decisions. Students offered admission for Fall 2019 presented, on average, an academic cumulative GPA of 3.4 based on a 4.0 scale, where A = 4.0 or on a numeric scale where A = 93-100, with 60 considered passing.
We reserve the right to deny admission to any candidate determined by the Admissions Committee to be inadequately qualified to undertake Lesley's program of study.
Admissions decisions are "need blind," made without consideration as to whether a student is applying for financial assistance. Guaranteed merit-based scholarships are available for both first-year and transfer students at the point of admission.