Head-to-head comparison
Curry College vs Lesley University: which has better ROI?
Option A Milton, MA
Curry College
- Net price / year
- $29,207
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,400
- Payback
- 19.3 yrs
Option B Cambridge, MA
Lesley University
- Net price / year
- $31,152
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,173
- Payback
- 44.3 yrs
Curry College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $116,828 in 19.3 years versus 44.3 years at Lesley University, on median earnings of $54,400 vs $51,173 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Curry College | Lesley University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,207 | $31,152 |
| Total net cost | $116,828 | $124,608 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,400 | $51,173 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $21,000 |
| Payback | 19.3 yrs | 44.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $3,972 | -$68,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Curry College or Lesley University?
Curry College, at $29,207 a year after aid versus $31,152 — a gap of $1,945 a year, or $7,780 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Curry College or Lesley University graduates earn more?
Curry College graduates report a median $54,400 ten years after entry, $3,227 more than the $51,173 at Lesley University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Curry College or Lesley University?
Lesley University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Curry College, a difference of $4,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Lesley University, against 51% at Curry College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.