Accreditations and State Approvals

Lesley University was founded in 1909 and is recognized as a nonprofit organization under Massachusetts law and as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Lesley University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) www.neche.org. Many individual programs are also accredited or endorsed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other organizations. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (www.mass.edu/home.asp) has granted Lesley University degree-granting authority for: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor, Master, Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, education leading to the degree of Associate in education and human services, and Doctor of Philosophy in: Expressive Therapies, Educational Studies, and Counseling and Psychology. See school-by-school accreditation information: lesley.edu/about/accreditations-state-approvals.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements

Lesley University has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (nc-sara.org/). A State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance-education courses and programs. SARA is approved in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. California does not participate in SARA, for more about California authorization, see the additional state-by-state information below.

Programs Leading to Professional Licensure

Lesley offers programs approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that meet current educational requirements for Initial, Professional, Specialist and Educator Licensure and Endorsements in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts is a member state of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) and a signatory of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which facilitates the transfer educator licensure between member states (not necessarily immediate reciprocity).  Therefore, a Massachusetts educator license is highly transferable.  Depending on your professional goals, where you reside or plan to teach, and the licensure structures that exist within that state, there are diverse pathways to licensure that may be relevant and some may require additional coursework, required tests, assessments, and/or classroom experiences.  State licensing boards complete their own review of licensure applications and determine eligibility.

Lesley University cannot confirm whether the course or program of study will meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in any state other than Massachusetts. We advise all applicants and students to determine whether the program meets requirements for licensure or certification in the state in which they reside or plan to practice.

Complaint Process for Online and Low-Residency Students

At Lesley, we attempt to resolve student complaints within our academic and administrative departments. Online and low-residency students who have a complaint about a University process or procedure may submit a written complaint at online.resolution@lesley.edu. We'll forward the complaint to the appropriate academic or administrative department and email you to let know that the issue is being reviewed. We'll attempt to resolve the complaint quickly.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) reviews and evaluates student complaints regarding online and distance learning programs offered by Massachusetts-based institutions that are members of SARA. Students must first attempt to resolve their complaints using Lesley’s internal complaint process. After exhausting this process, students may submit a complaint to the Massachusetts DHE.

If you are located in Massachusetts or in a non-SARA member state or territory and your complaint is not resolved at the institutional level you may proceed to the DHE’s non-SARA consumer complaint form https://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaints.asp

If you are located in a SARA member state (other than Massachusetts) or territory and your complaint is not resolved at the institutional level, you may proceed to the DHE’s SARA complaint form. Complaints about student grades and student conduct violations are expressly excluded from SARA review.

Information about complaint procedures is available in the “Additional State Approvals” section for enrolled students from California and other specifically stated programs that are operating beyond the scope of SARA.

Additional State Approvals

California

Lesley University is approved to operate pursuant to California Education Code (CEC) section 94890(a)(1), which approves Lesley University due to its accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. 

California consumer complaint process:  http://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml

California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
P. O. Box 980818
W. Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
Phone: 888.370.7589 Fax: 916.263.1897

California Student Tuition Recovery Fund

CA requires that a student who pays his or her tuition is required to pay a CA-imposed assessment for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund.

Pursuant to California Education Code (CEC) section 5, CCR 76020.

Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF). “The STRF is a fund administered by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (Bureau) that relieves or mitigates economic loss suffered by a student while enrolled in a qualifying institution – generally, one that is approved or registered by the Bureau. At the time of his or her enrollment, the student must have been a California resident or enrolled in a California residency program, prepaid tuition, and suffered economic loss.”

Application for the CA Student Tuition Recovery Fund: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/forms_pubs/strf_application.pdf

Colorado

Colorado participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.  Lesley University is recognized by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education under state statutes (23-1-101 et seq., C.R.S. 1973, amended 1981) to award degrees and degree credit in Colorado based on Lesley's ongoing accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Colorado consumer complaint process: highered.colorado.gov/

Colorado Department of Higher Education

1560 Broadway, Suite 1600, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303.866.2723; 303.866.4266

Idaho

Idaho participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.  Lesley University holds a Certificate of Registration certifying that it is registered, as required by law, with the Idaho State Board of Education as an accredited post-secondary institution to offer the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in Integrated Teaching through the Arts.

Idaho consumer complaint process: https://boardofed.idaho.gov/higher-education-private/private-colleges-degree-granting/student-complaint-procedures/

Idaho State Board of Education

PO Box 83720, Boise, ID 03720-0037
208.332.1587

Maine

Maine participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. 

The Maine State Board of Education has approved authorization to Lesley University to offer the following programs.

Maine consumer complaint information: http://www.maine.gov/doe/

Maine Department of Education

Attention: Complaint Investigator

23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0023

207.624.6846

Massachusetts

Lesley University is recognized as a nonprofit organization under Massachusetts law and as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education has granted Lesley University degree-granting authority for: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor, Master, Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, education leading to the degree of Associate in education and human services, and Doctor of Philosophy in: Expressive Therapies, Educational Studies, and Counseling and Psychology.

Massachusetts consumer complaint process: http://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaints.asp

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place, Room 1401, Boston, MA 02108
617.994.6913

Montana

Montana participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.  The Montana Board of Regents grants Lesley University exemption due to accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Montana consumer complaint process: https://app.doj.mt.gov/apps/Oscar/default.aspx

Montana Board of Regents, Office of Commissioner of Higher Education

Montana University System

2500 Broadway Street, PO Box 203201, Helena, MT 59620-3201

406.444.6570

New Hampshire

New Hampshire participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.  The State of New Hampshire Higher Education Commission authorizes Lesley University continuing approval to offer post-secondary programs to any educator at any school site in the State of New Hampshire. All site locations must be approved by the Executive Director based on compliance with all regulations and requirements of the Commission.

New Hampshire consumer complaint process: https://www.education.nh.gov/

New Hampshire Division of Higher Education
101 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301-3493
Phone: 603.271.2555 ext. 350

South Carolina

South Carolina participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.  Licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, 1122 Lady Street, Suite 300, Columbia, SC 29201, Tel. 803-737-2260. Licensure indicates only that minimum standards have been met; it is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality.

South Carolina consumer complaint process: http://www.che.sc.gov/Home.aspx

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

1333 Main St., Suite 200, Columbia, SC 29201

Phone: 803.737.2260 | Fax: 803.737.2297

Washington

Washington participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

Lesley University is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Lesley University to offer specific degree programs. Authorization by the Council does not carry with it an endorsement by the Council of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or by email at DegreeAuthorization@wsac.wa.gov@wasc.wa.gov. 

The transferability of credits earned at Lesley University is at the discretion of the receiving college, university or other educational institution.  Students considering transferring to any institution should not assume that credits earned in any program of study at Lesley University will be accepted by the receiving institution.  Similarly, the ability of a degree, certificate, diploma, or other academic credential earned at Lesley University to satisfy an admission requirement of another institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Accreditation does not guarantee credentials or credits earned at Lesley University will be accepted by or transferred to another institution.  To minimize the risk of having to repeat coursework, students should contact the receiving institution in advance for evaluation and determination of transferability of credits and/or acceptability of degrees, diplomas, or certificates earned.

Washington consumer complaint process: http://www.wsac.wa.gov/protecting-education-consumers

Wyoming

Wyoming participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.  The State of Wyoming grants Lesley University authorization to offer educational services to Wyoming students.

Wyoming Department of Education student complaint form: https://edu.wyoming.gov/downloads/schools/student-complaint-form.pdf

School-by-School Accreditation Information

Graduate School of Education

• All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

• Lesley University's Educator/Counselor Preparation and Professional Development Program is accredited under the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), now the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences

• All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Accreditations for the Division of Counseling and Psychology:

• Lesley University's Educator/Counselor Preparation and Professional Development Program is accredited under the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) now the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

• School guidance counseling and school adjustment counseling programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• MA in Counseling Psychology is accredited by the Master's in Psychology Accreditation Council

Program Approvals for the Division of Expressive Therapy:

• The Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Art Therapy Program by the American Art Therapy Association

• The Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Dance Therapy Program by the American Dance Therapy Association
• The Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Drama Therapy Program by the North American Drama Therapy Association
• The Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Music Therapy by the American Music Therapy Association

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

• All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
• Our Educator/Counselor Preparation and Professional Development Program is accredited under the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) now the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
• The baccalaureate Business Management program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP)

College of Art and Design

• All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design

• Member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design

Email: state.approvals@lesley.edu with questions about Lesley University accreditations and state approvals.