Students come to Lesley University with a desire to make a difference; they leave prepared to impact the world. We seek students who demonstrate the creativity, knowledge, and skills that will allow them to thrive and achieve success in our academic programs, art studios, and real-life, hands-on opportunities such as field placements and on-site internships.
At Lesley University, student experiences are enriched by intellectual and personal connections with classmates from around the globe.
We admit qualified students regardless of race, religion, gender, gender expression, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.
First-Year Students
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 has a preferred deadline of February 15; however, applications will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis after that date. Applicants can apply to Lesley through the Common Application (first-year applicants only) or the Lesley application (all applicants). Lesley does not have a preference regarding which application an applicant submits. All first-year students must submit a completed application along with the following:
- An official copy of the secondary school transcript or official test results from a high school equivalency exam (HiSet or GED). Transcripts must be original documents bearing the official high school stamp and date of graduation.
- One letter of recommendation from a teacher or school counselor. A recommendation letter helps support the application by providing us with additional details about the student.
Standardized Testing
- Lesley University is “test blind," which means submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission.
Portfolios
- Students applying to BFA programs in the College of Art and Design must submit a digital portfolio of 10-12 pieces.
Coursework, Transcripts and Earned Credits
Successful candidates will be on track to graduate from high school, its equivalent, 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, at least 3 units of history/social science, 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, and social science, and at least two years of a foreign language. If students are dually enrolled in college coursework or simply taking some college-level classes, they may submit official college transcripts.
Transfer Students
A student who has completed secondary education and has matriculated into a degree program at another college or university may apply as a transfer student. The maximum number of credit hours that may be transferred into a BA, BAL, BS, or BSW degree is 90 credits. The maximum number of credits that may be transferred into a BFA program is 66 credits.
The number of credit hours that can be transferred into a Master’s, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, Certificate, or PhD program varies depending on the program of study. Deadlines also vary by program. Deadlines can be found online at: Application Deadlines for Graduate Programs | Lesley University.
Transfer applicants must submit a completed application along with the following credentials:
- An official secondary school transcript or official test results from a high school equivalency exam (GED or HiSet). Transcripts must be original documents bearing the official high school stamp and date of graduation. Applicants with 24 or more earned college-level credits are waived from this requirement.
- An official college transcript from each institution previously attended. Transcripts must bear the official institution stamp and be conferred by the regionally accredited colleges or universities.
For criteria regarding transcripts from institutions outside the United States, refer to the International Students section of this catalog.
As a general rule, accepted transfer undergraduate students present a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average in previous college-level work.
Note: Catalog course descriptions or a syllabus from granting institutions may be required before undergraduate or graduate credits are successfully transferred to Lesley University. There is more detailed information on transfer credits in the section labeled Awarding of Advanced Credit.
Portfolios
- Students applying to transfer into undergraduate BFA programs in the College of Art and Design must submit a digital portfolio of 10 - 12 pieces with first-year foundation studio skills clearly demonstrated along with an artist statement.
- Students applying to transfer into graduate MFA programs in the College of Art and Design must submit a digital portfolio of 15-20 pieces.
Bachelor's Degree Completion Programs (on-campus in Cambridge and online)
Admissions Requirements:
Application instructions are online here: https://lesley.edu/admissions-aid/how-to-apply/undergraduate-programs
Required Documentation:
Refer to the following sections in this catalog for a list of requirements:
Graduate Students
Lesley University offers three terms for graduate school enrollment: fall, spring, and summer. Not all graduate programs begin every term. Online programs can begin in one of six terms. Admission to most Lesley University programs operates on a rolling basis with recommended deadlines. Some applications are accepted throughout the year and admissions decisions are determined once all application requirements have been met. Applicants should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions or refer to the website at lesley.edu/admissions-aid/how-to-apply/graduate-programs, regarding application requirements and tuition deadlines. Students are encouraged to submit applications early.
Admission to Master's Degree Programs
Master’s degree applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, from a regionally accredited college or university, with a satisfactory grade point average. Applications are processed on a rolling basis for all graduate programs; however, applicants are encouraged to pay close attention to application deadlines.
Admission to Graduate Certificate Programs
Requirements for Graduate Certificates vary by program, and applicants should consult the individual application materials for the particular certificate that they are seeking. Click on this link for a list of certificate programs offered: https://lesley.edu/academics/explore/program-type/certificate
Admission to Post-Master's and PhD Programs
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) and Doctoral (PhD) degree applicants must hold a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, from regionally accredited colleges or universities, with a satisfactory grade point average. Applications for CAGS are processed on a rolling admissions basis. Applications for PhD programs must be submitted by the application deadline specified on the website.
Portfolios for MFA Programs
- Students applying to MFA programs in the College of Art and Design must submit a digital portfolio of 15-20 pieces.
Note: Students who attended institutions outside the United States should refer to the International Students section of this catalog for information on credential evaluation requirements.
International Students
In addition to the credentials required for first-year, transfer, graduate, and degree completion applicants, an international student must also submit proof of English proficiency. To ensure a student’s ability to participate successfully in the Lesley curriculum, students whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through one of these six options:
- Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): A score of 80 on the internet-based test is required. The Lesley University code for TOEFL is 3483.
- Official IELTS (International English Language Testing System): A score of 6.5 or higher is required. To submit IELTS scores, students should contact the center where they took the test and request an official Test Report Form be sent to Lesley.
- Official Cambridge English Exam: Applicants must show proof of having taken the exam at the "Advanced" level and achieving a score of "C1" or "C2".
- Duolingo English Test: A minimum score of 105 is required.
- Proof of Successful Completion of an ESL Program: Lesley University has partnered with several language schools to help students meet the English requirement by completion of the curriculum, at the specified level. Applicants must provide proof of successful completion and a letter of reference from the program coordinator or teacher in support of the student’s English language capabilities. Applicants may visit lesley.edu/more-content-admissions-block-h-1-english-language-proficiency for a list of ESL partnership schools and the levels that must be completed to fulfill the English proficiency requirement.
- Language Requirement Waiver: Students whose native language is not English but who have graduated from a school or program taught in English and were in an English curriculum for at least four years may qualify to have the language requirement waived. If it is not noted on their transcripts, students should request a letter from their high school, college, or university stating their language of instruction was English.
Students who have earned college credits or a degree outside the United States are required to submit the following evaluations completed by a credential evaluation service to the Office of Admissions:
- Undergraduate students should submit an official course-by-course evaluation of their transcripts.
- Graduate students should submit an official document-by-document evaluation, with the exception of Expressive Therapies master’s degree programs which require an official course-by-course evaluation.
The following agencies are available to evaluate credentials:
Additional Requirements:
- All references and academic documentation submitted must be official original documents or certified, clear photocopies, and written in English. If a document is not in English, the Office of Admissions requires an English translation of submitted documents in addition to the original documents.
- Proof of funds to cover tuition and living expenses for one year must be provided. The I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility), needed to obtain an F-1 student visa, will not be issued without proof of funds. The certification of finances must be dated and submitted no earlier than three months prior to the start of the student’s first semester so as to be a current reflection of funds. An I-20 form, for students wishing to study on Lesley’s F-1 sponsorship, will be provided after the student has been accepted and has submitted both the certification of finances, the required enrollment contract and enrollment deposit (if applicable) signifying their intent to enroll, and if they meet all other eligible requirements based on previous U.S. immigration history (if applicable). Check the F-1 and Form I-20 Information section of the Lesley International Student Services office and contact iss@lesley.edu for assistance.
Note: Financial aid is not available for international applicants; however, international students may be considered for merit scholarships, if applicable. Refer to the Financial Aid section of this catalog for more information.
For further information regarding international student admissions procedures, please refer to the website at lesley.edu/admissions-aid/how-to-apply/international-students or contact the Office of Admissions:
Graduate Admissions
617.349.8300
luadmissions@lesley.edu
Undergraduate Admissions
617.349.8800
admissions@lesley.edu
Part-time Degree Students
Part-time degree students apply for admission in the same manner as full-time students and are subject to the same admissions policies.
Home-Schooled Students
In addition to the other application requirements, home-schooled students must present the admissions committee with either a degree from an accredited post-secondary school, successfully complete a state secondary school equivalency examination (GED or HiSET), or demonstrate they have met the requirements of their home state with respect to graduation.
Document Submission
Official documents can be sent directly from the formerly attended institution via email (appstatus@lesley.edu for graduate students and ugdocs@lesley.edu for undergraduate students) or through secure sites including:
- Parchment
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Common Application
- WES, CED, and ECE (International Students)
Mailed documents should be in an envelope sealed by and sent by the granting institution to: Office of Undergraduate (or Graduate) Admissions, Lesley University, 29 Everett Street Cambridge, MA 02138.
All application materials submitted to the Office of Admissions become the property of Lesley University and cannot be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution. Applicants are advised to save a copy of their completed application form and written personal statement for their records. Lesley reserves the right to make changes in the application process or request additional information, including an interview, from an applicant in order to evaluate the application for admission.
Admission Decisions
After an application has been reviewed, the Office of Admissions will notify the applicant in writing about their admission status. International applicants will be notified via email. Only these official written or emailed notifications signed by the Associate Vice President or the Director of Admissions communicate an applicant’s admissions status.
Admitted students must sign an enrollment contract to officially enroll in a program and pay a deposit ($200 for on-campus graduate programs and $300 for undergraduate programs, plus a $300 housing deposit, if applicable.) There is no deposit required for students admitted to online programs. The only requirement for students in these programs is to sign an enrollment contract.
Admitted
This category grants the applicant admission by means of an official letter of acceptance (email for international students). Admission permits the applicant to enroll as a degree candidate. Formal admission is contingent upon successfully meeting all admissions criteria.
Conditionally Admitted
Applicants who are conditionally admitted must meet the condition(s) stated in their letter of admission. If they fail to meet the condition(s), they may not be allowed to enroll, continue in their program, or graduate from Lesley University.
Note: International students who meet all academic criteria for admission but have not yet met the University’s English Language proficiency requirement may be admitted with the condition of demonstrating and meeting our English language proficiency requirement. A student has up to one full year to meet the requirement, options for doing so are listed in the "International Students" section above.
Not Admitted
Applicants who do not meet the admission criteria will receive an official letter of notification. Applicants who have been denied admission must wait one semester before reapplying for admission
Appealing an Admissions Decision
Applicants may request an appeal in writing. Undergraduates should send an email to admissions@lesley.edu; graduate students should send it to luaddmissions@lesley.edu. This request for reconsideration and review should describe any new information not already included in the original admissions application that should be considered by the Admissions Appeals Committee. This new, significant, and/or compelling information can be related to academic performance, extracurricular activities; or a description of the extenuating circumstances which were not provided at the original point of application. Additionally, an interview with the appeals committee will be required.
The Admissions Appeals Committee reviews an appeal to determine if the new, significant, and/or compelling information provided by the applicant warrants a different admissions decision.
The decision of the Admissions Appeals Committee is binding and final.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) for undergraduate Students
Lesley University recognizes that undergraduate students may have had professional and life experiences that parallel college level learning.
The PLA process is available to undergraduate students. It is not available to graduate students. Students start the PLA process by meeting with their academic advisor and then the Assistant Vice President of College Partnerships and Transfer Initiatives. Through 1-on-1 meetings, faculty guide students to identify and document their learning experiences into a comprehensive portfolio. Students may apply for as few as three (3), and as many as forty-five (45) credits that, if awarded, will count toward degree requirements. In addition to the cost of the three-credit course, students pay a $100 per credit assessment fee at the time they submit the PLA portfolio (students must submit this fee prior to having their portfolios assessed and regardless of how many credits are ultimately awarded).
The Assistant Vice President of College Partnerships and Transfer Initiatives selects the appropriate academic division/program or department and works in collaboration with the Associate Provost and Chair or Director to identify the expert or experts among faculty to work on the credential review. The Associate Provost and Chair or Director select the faculty member or members according to their experience and knowledge of the area to be reviewed. The Assistant Vice President of College Partnerships and Transfer Initiatives, Chair or Director and selected faculty members responsible to evaluate the program meet with the director of the program to be reviewed to have a clear understanding of the rationale for transfer. Faculty members can opt out of reviewing transfer of credits.
Students wishing to appeal award decisions should contact the Assistant Vice President of College Partnerships and Transfer Initiatives for instructions. All appeals will be reviewed by the Associate Provost of the academic discipline whose decision related to credit awards will be final.
Awarded credits are incorporated into a student’s degree plan as transfer credits and are calculated as part of the maximum 90 allowable transfer credits for undergraduate students. PLA credits may be applied to requirements in the major, general education, or electives in the BAL in Liberal Studies program. PLA credits may be applied to general education and elective credits in other majors, though approval will be required for some credits to count toward courses in majors outside of the Liberal Studies program.
Students interested in earning credit through PLA should discuss their eligibility with their advisor early in their degree planning. Potential PLA credits should be considered and discussed as part of a student’s transfer credits at the time of enrollment; credits through PLA are ideally taken in the beginning or middle of a student’s plan. PLA credits cannot be the final credits students take as part of their degree. Per university policy, students must take institutional credit at Lesley in their final semester before graduation. Students wishing to learn more about the PLA process should contact their advisor.
Massachusetts Independent College Undergraduate Transfer Guarantee (Mass Guarantee)
Lesley University participates in the Mass Guarantee program. Any student with an associate degree from a Massachusetts community college and a minimum GPA of 2.5 is guaranteed acceptance to Lesley. There is also a guaranteed transfer of all associate degree credits earned.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions works with students to complete their application files. Once all application requirements are met, the completed application is then presented to the Admissions Committee for review. Admitted students are assigned a professional Academic Advisor. The Academic Advisor will review prior learning experiences and discuss the student's goals. Up to 90 transfer credits may be applied toward Lesley’s 120-credit BA, BAL, BS, or BSW programs, and up to 66 credits may be applied to BFA programs. Students may also earn up to 45 transfer credits (which are counted towards the maximum allowable 90 transfer credits) by documenting college-level knowledge gained via life and work experience, through our Prior Learning Assessment process (PLA).
In determining which credits may transfer, every effort is made to match courses with their Lesley degree equivalents. College-level courses with grades of C- or better are eligible for transfer credit. Students who transfer in a full associate’s degree may receive credit for all passed courses that applied to the associate degree. Courses taken for a pass/fail grade will be eligible for transfer with a "P" grade.
Our academic advisors work with students from initial degree planning through to graduation.
Community College Partnerships for Undergraduate Degrees
Lesley University partners with local community colleges to provide pathways to bachelor's degree completion. Associate's degree holders from community colleges can transfer their earned credits into a corresponding bachelor's degree program offered by Lesley University and taught online, at Lesley University's Cambridge campus, or on select community college campuses.
Bachelor's Degree Completion Programs on the Bunker Hill Community College Campus
Lesley University offers four bachelor's degree completion programs on the Bunker Hill campus:
- Bachelor of Science in Business
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies, non-licensure program
- Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Individually Designed
Note: Certificate in Child Homelessness Minor—students in any of the majors listed above, or students in any program on the Cambridge campus, may also pursue this 15-credit program, as part of their degree plan.
Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program on the campus of Urban College of Boston
- Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies, non-licensure program
- Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Individually Designed
- Bachelor of Science in Human Services (online format only)
Admissions Requirements:
- Students interested in pursuing one of Lesley University's degree completion programs at Bunker Hill Community College or the Urban College of Boston should have completed, or be in the process of completing, an associate degree.
- Students must have a 2.5 or higher cumulative academic grade point average (GPA) in their associate degree
The application process is the same as that described under Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs: Bachelor's Degree Completion On Campus Program: How to Apply Guide US Students | Lesley University
Transfer credit decisions are based on Lesley's transfer policies.